Pawar launches attack on Congress

When his attention was drawn to the National Democratic Alliance NDA manifesto, Pawar said he would comment only after reading it carefully. The NDA manifesto has spoken of a legislation to prevent foreign-born persons from occupying high offices.

Pawar said his party would have an alliance with the Janata Dal faction of Deve Gowda, Samajwadi Party and Republican Party of India. He said the problems of seat sharing with Janata Dal had been sorted out by a three member committee comprising Bapu Kaldate, Surendra Mohan and himself.On electioneering, he said he would mainly concentrate on Maharashtra and would also visit Gujarat and Goa. Confident that all the three NCP candidates in Pune district would win the election, Pawar said he would address public meetings in Pune city and district on September 7 and 8.

To another question, Pawar said the list of remaining Lok Sabha and Assembly candidates in Maharashtra would be announced by State NCP president Chhagan Bhujbal within two days.

Later, addressing an impressive public meeting Pawar launched a frontal attack on the Congress saying that it was the political duty of every citizen to defeat Sonia Congress. Pawar said Sonia Congress had forgotten Gandhi and Nehru and would enslave the nation.

Congress which had once fought the alien rule, Pawar said, was now proposing to hand over power to a foreigner and alienate Indians. Confident that the people would not 8220;compromise with their self respect8221; on the matter, he called upon the voters to be discreet against electing a person of foreign origin to the high post. 8220;Otherwise history will never forgive you, he said8221;.

Referring to the Kargil issue, Pawar criticised the BJP mentioning it had failed to protect the Indian border and the Indian army had to sacrifice 500 jawans while spending crores of rupees in driving out the Pak infiltrators. The BJP, he said, had no right to use the Kargil issue for political gains.

Citing escalation in prices and the recession which had badly hit the industry, Pawar said the Vajpayee government had failed on all fronts. He blamed the Centre for importing onion and sugar when the country had adequate stocks of both the commodities.

Apprehending that the Congress leaders would hurl allegations against him and disturb the election process, he appealed to his supporters and party workers to practice restraint and ensure peaceful electioneering.

Bhujbal, on his part, predicted that the split in Congress would not benefit BJP-Sena alliance as voters had already decided to defeat the alliance. Referring to S B Chavan8217;s charge against Pawar about the latter8217;s involvement in Aurangabad and Pune riots, Bhujbal said it was habitual for all leaders to level charges against Pawar during every election.