Ram Row: It’s a question of beliefs, says Pawar

Sharad Pawar said, 'people should desist from making remarks that hurt anybody's beliefs'.

In a veiled criticism of DMK leader Karunanidhi over his remarks on Lord Ram, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said, “people should desist from making remarks that hurt anybody’s beliefs”.

“This is a question of beliefs. I will advise my colleagues not to hurt anybody’s sentiments,” Pawar said at a press conference.

The decision on the Sethusamudram project was taken when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, Pawar said. “At that time, there was a demand from both DMK and AIADMK. I am not aware why there is a change now,” he said.

Asked if the ‘Ram lehar’ (Ram wave), sought to be created by some parties, would be a major issue during the next polls,

Pawar said, “elections are not fought over the same issue again”.

He refuted BJP’s allegations of corruption in the wheat import deal, saying the process was a transparent one. “We saved government Rs 150 crore”.

Asked his party’s comments on reports that NCP’s ruling ally Congress was thinking of replacing Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Pawar said, “this is not our issue”.

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Pawar also ruled out intervening on the issue of fluctuating onion prices. “The prices vary due to the demand-supply situation. It is not alright for the government to step in every time,” he added.