Congress leaders wonder if the NCP leader’s comments in a recent interview is an indicator of his desire to return to the party.
NAGPUR: While Sharad Pawar is busy celebrating his 66th birthday in New Delhi, the audio tape of an interview he granted to BBC Radio two days ago is making the rounds of the Congress in Maharashtra.
The interview, in which the president of the Nationalist Congress Party praises Sonia Gandhi and says people like him had to pay the price for raising certain issues about her, is at the centre of much debate in the party.
The big question is whether Pawar’s comments are an indication of his readiness to return to the Congress.
The interview, which was conducted by Sanjeev Shrivastava, India editor of BBC’s Hindi service, is available on bbchindi.com.
Asked his opinion about Gandhi, Pawar told the BBC, “The manner in which she suffered shocks and stayed back in India and even strengthened the Congress when everyone else was saying she and her children should leave the country has to be accepted.”
He continued, “In a large country like India there are always issues about culture and history. Some of us had doubts about what path she would take if the responsibility of running the country came upon her. We expressed these doubts and paid the price for it by leaving the Congress.
Asked how Gandhi treats him when they meet privately, Pawar said, “Members of the Nehru-Gandhi family have a tradition of treating anybody they come in contact with, with respect and she has continued that tradition.”
Nearly all top ministers and leaders of the Congress in the state have heard the interview. But none was willing to comment upon it.
){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}