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Journalism of Courage
Chavan dares Pawar to file defamation suit
Reiterating his charge that Sharad Pawar had engineered communal riots in Maharashtra after the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished, former Union Home Minister S B Chavan today challenged Pawar to file a defamation case against him so that the truth would be revealed to all.
Talking to mediapersons here on Wednesday evening, Chavan, who arrived here to attend Congress president Sonia Gandhi8217;s rally at Bhor, said Pawar should really file a case against him as declared by the latter. He said he would announce in court Pawar8217;s connections with certain persons.
Answering a question, Chavan predicted that Congress would bag 35 Lok Sabha seats in the State. He said the election results would prove that Pawar8217;s attempt to split the Congress vote bank had failed.
Chavan demanded resignation of Defence Minister George Fernandes for his failure in handling the situation arising out of intrusion of Pakistani soldiers in the Kargil sector. He opined that BJP would not benefit from the Kargil incident as the government8217;s failure was known to the masses.
Pawar misleading Congmen8217;
Rajya Sabha Sabha Member and publicity-in-charge of Congress Suresh Kalmadi on Wednesday accused Sharad Pawar of 8220;misleading and pressurising Congress workers to join the Nationalist Congress Party NCP.8221;
Addressing a press conference along with Chandresh Kumari, president of the All India Women Congress Committee, Kalmadi alleged that Pawar8217;s nephew Ajit, who is president of Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, had threatened members of cooperative societies in an attempt to get support for NCP.
Kalmadi alleged that majority of the NCP workers were forced to support Sharad Pawar. Several former Congressmen including Ashok Mohol, Subhash Kul and Vijay Singh Mohite were threatened and forced to support Sharad Pawar against their wishes, he alleged.
Meanwhile, former president of Maharashtra Women8217;s Congress Committee Vidya Belose, who had earlier joined Pawar, on Wednesday returned to the Congress camp.
