'Politics should not be brought in here. It [the statement] has to be seen from a human angle about a person who recently underwent a surgery,' a senior party leader said on condition of anonymity.
The Congress today played down the request of ICC president and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar to prime minister Manmohan Singh to reduce the burden on him and said his wish could be complied with.
"Whatever is his wish... Politics should not be brought in here. It [the statement] has to be seen from a human angle about a person who recently underwent surgery," a senior party leader said on condition of anonymity.
Asked whether the party welcomed the statement of Pawar, particularly when he has been criticised in Congress circles for rising food prices, the leader shot back, "What is there to welcome? We do not comment on our allies."
A party source, however, indicated that the statement of Pawar could lead to a cabinet reshuffle in the near future.
After meeting the prime minister, the new ICC president said, "I met the prime minister today and have requested him to reduce my burden."
Asked what he meant by reducing his burden, 70-year-old Pawar, who holds the agriculture as well as food and consumer affairs portfolios and has just one minister of state to assist him, said, "That is up to him [the prime minister]. It is the prerogative of the prime minister."
Explaining his request, he said, "I want more time with my party and the ICC and all those stuff. I have agriculture, food and consumer affairs department. For so many years, I have been in the government. This year, I will complete 44 years in Parliament [and assembly] and I think 25-26 years in the government. Mujhe rahat milna chahiye [I need relief]."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}