Indore, Mar 30: Against the backdrop of Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's attacks on UPA and Congress, Union Minister Manish Tewari on Friday said the ruling party and the alliance know how to run a coalition.
"The UPA and Congress have always shown that they know how to run a coalition and the current UPA government will complete its full term," the Congress leader told reporters after inaugurating the Language Journalism Festival of SAARC countries, organised by the Indore Press Club, here.
"The people of the country do not like instability and they treat those who create instability in a little tough manner," Tewari remarked.
Yadav had two days ago called Congress "cheat" and "clever". When asked about it, Tewari said "we respect Yadav and other partners of UPA a lot. He is a senior leader and everyone should follow basic courtesies while indulging in political dialogue....We always try to sort out differences with our allies in a creative manner."
Tewari further said "as the general elections are about a year ahead, the government has focused on strengthening the economy and putting back economic reforms on track. We also want to pass Food Security Bill and other important legislations as soon as possible".
Terming the Third Front as "the most enduring mirage of Indian politics", he said "if we look back on the 20-year history of Indian politics, then we will find that it was an era of coalition governments."
On the issue of actor Sanjay Dutt's sentence in 1993 Mumbai blasts case and demand from some quarters that he be pardoned, Tewari said the Supreme Court had arrived at the decision after following a due legal course.
"The President and Governors have some constitutional rights but it is a matter between the concerned person and those having the powers," he said.
On efforts to promote Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as BJP's candidate for Prime Minister's post, Tewari said, "BJP should answer this question....Whether it has projected Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate or not.
"Speculation is there but then suddenly Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) tweets on the issue, BJP should first sort out opposition from within."
Congress contests elections on policies and the party never worries about who is the opposition's candidate, he said.
On the possibility of Rahul Gandhi being projected as candidate for PM, Tewari said "he has already clarified his position, but it is a fact that it was a wish of millions of Congressmen that he should play more diversified role. Respecting those sentiments only he became the party's Vice President.
