Despite the meeting sparking a controversy, NCP today justified party chief Sharad Pawar's discussion with Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on the IPL tournament contending that in a democracy dialogue and discussion are important.
NCP spokesman DP Tripathi said Pawar had met Thackeray along with BCCI chief Shashank Manohar to convince the Sena supremo about holding of the IPL matches in Mumbai and there was no political import to the meeting.
"In democracy we persuade people through discussion and dialogue," Tripathi said.
At the same time he agreed with Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan that there was no extra-constitutional authority.
Tripathi also insisted that persuasion is far more important than coercion in a democratic state.
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