Will always speak in partys interest,says defiant Satyavrat

While the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) expressed satisfaction with the Congress decision to remove Satyavrat Chaturvedi as spokesman....

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While the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) expressed satisfaction with the Congress decision to remove Satyavrat Chaturvedi as spokesman,the Congress leader on Wednesday remained defiant maintaining that there was no change in his stance about Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawars responsibility for price rise.

I always speak in the best interest of the party as best as I can. And I will continue to do so, Chaturvedi told reporters. While Congress had declared his removal as spokesman in January 2009 as well following his insulting remarks against then Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh,the senior Congress leader maintained that there was no official communication from the party at that time.

But AICC media cell chairman Janardan Dwivedi said Chaturvedi has been removed officially,though he skirted queries about the partys announcement of his removal last year. Amar Singh had then welcomed the decision saying,If it is true,I am grateful to the Congress leadership. Chaturvedi retorted by asking the SP leader to get a mental check-up. After Singh was expelled by the party this year leading to speculation about his possible entry into Congress,Chaturvedi had said: Congress is not a wastepaper basket.

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While Dwivedi refused to comment on the reasons for Chaturvedis latest removal,party sources said the High Commands decision was aimed at cooling the frayed tempers in the NCP.

NCP leader Tariq Anwar said his party was satisfied with the action against Chaturvedi. Everybody should exercise restraint in the use of language, he said,referring to the Congress leaders objectionable remarks against Pawar to a television channel three days back. NCP leader P A Sangma was said to have written a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi protesting against the uncivilised language used by Chaturvedi.

Chaturvedi still remains a Permanent Invitee to the Congress Working Committee and also in-charge of AICC departments and cells. After his supposed removal as spokesman last year,he had not addressed any press briefings. Although the party always distanced itself from his controversial remarks,terming them as his personal opinion,the 60-year-old Rajya Sabha member had continued to attack the partys allies.

While the Congress often made veiled criticism of Pawar on the issue of price rise,Chaturvedi had led the attack on the NCP chief from the front in Parliament,at CWC meetings and also at public meetings. In August 2007,he had attacked Pawar in the Rajya Sabha asking to know why wheat was being imported at higher prices than the minimum support price . At a farmers rally in August 2009,he had accused Pawar of misleading the country on the drought situation.