Now, Sharad Pawar denies resentment in NCP

He said that a wrong impression was being created by Opposition parties through the media that NCP MLAs were on the verge of defection. He said that some attempts had also been made by the concerned parties to lure NCP MLAs through improper methods but they did not succeed. He pointed out that if the Opposition parties indeed had their numbers, they had a good chance of showing their strength on Wednesday, which was the last day of approving budgetary demands of various ministries. He pointed out the fact that the Opposition did not even demand vote during approval of budgetary demands indicated their propaganda was without substance.

Answering a query on a possible alliance of NCP and BJP, Pawar categorically said that there was no possibility of having a tie with BJP at present or in the future.

Without naming Sena chief Bal Thackeray he said that every time a deadline for toppling the Democratic Front Government was set it was never reached. He said that NCP MLAs would not do anything which would destablise the DF Government in the State. When some names like Madhukar Pichad and Vijaysingh Mohite-Patil were pointed out to him as possible defectors, Pawar said that he had known them long enough to say that they would not defect.

RANE ACCUSES SPEAKER:Leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly Narayan Rane on Wednesday accused Assembly Speaker Arun Gujarathi of playing to the tune of Deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal.

Addressing a press meet, Rane pointed out that Gujarathi had violated norms to please Bhujbal when the proceedings were stalled by some ruling party MLAs over a riot involving Shiv Sena MLA Prakash Bharsakle.

Rane said when the House had taken up other items on the agenda, Gujarathi chose to go back and allow ruling party MLA Sunil Deshmukh to make a statement on the riot. He said Gujarathi also allowed Bhujbal to speak on the issue and Bhujbal suspended a police officer, without conducting any inquiry just to please his partymen.

Rane said that he had written a letter to Gujarathi expressing his displeasure over the manner in which the proceedings of the House were conducted. He said that it was the first step towards showing that the Opposition was not happy with Gujarathi’s performance. He said that Gujarathi had become helpless in front of Bhujbal and was taking decisions as told to him by Bhujbal through gestures. He said that these happenings in the Assembly were unfortunate and in violation of the usual procedures followed.

Answering a question, Rane said that he was not interested in creating any political instability in the State. However, he said that many people, irrespective of their party affiliations meet him daily. Asked why the Sena had not moved the cut motion on Wednesday, he said that they had dropped the idea.

He further said the Government was trying to shield Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi and hence was dillydallying over the issue. He said the Government’s gesture in sending the tapes to a laboratory was to delay the issue and protect Azmi. He said that if the Government failed to take action as promised within 15 days, his party would used other democratic weapons to protest against the inaction.