New Delhi, Aug 20: NCP chief Sharad Pawar today said that there was “no division” in the UPA over the Lokpal issue even as his party spokesperson criticised Anna Hazare's arrest.
“There is no division between the Congress and its allies and everyone wants a strong Lokpal Bill,” he told PTI. “We are all with the Prime Minister on the issue and everyone wants smooth resolution of the matter. We all are of the same view,” he said dimissing suggestions of any problems between the Congress and the NCP.
He dismissed as totally false reports that he had been asked by the government to tackle the Anna Hazare issue. “Neither anyone discussed the issue with me nor have I discussed it with anyone,” Pawar said.
His comments came after NCP spokesman D P Tripathi dubbed as needless the arrest of Hazare and that UPA should have consulted its allies on the matter.
“There was no need to arrest Hazare and prevent him from going ahead with the fast. Errors would not have been committed, if allies had been consulted,” Tripathi said.
In an obvious criticism of the Congress, he noted that “single party handling of the situation is not good. The UPA should function as UPA, especially in times of crisis.
All constituents must sit together and sort these things out.” At the same time, Tripathi faulted Hazare for his “wrong” method.
The Sharad Pawar-led party is the fourth largest constituent in the UPA. It has two Cabinet ministers and a Minister of state at the Centre.
The NCP also shares power in the Congress-led coalition in Maharashtra. PTI
