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NCP is driving Muslim away from Cong: MPCC chief

NCP is driving Muslim away from Cong: MPCC chief

Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: July 30, 2006

Introduction: Partymen not in favour of alliance for local body polls'

[Note from the Hindu Vivek Kendra: If this is not vote bank politics, what is it?]

The political gulf between the Con­gress and its ally in the Democratic Front government, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), widened further on Saturday with Maharahstra Pradesh Con­gress Committee (MPCC) president Prabha Rau intensifying her attacks on Sharad Pawar's party.

Addressing Congress workers at a party meeting on Saturday, she said that the rank and file of the Congress was not in favour of a tie-up with the NCP for the forthcoming local body polls because of the latter's devious mode of functioning, accusing it of driving away Muslims from the Congress.

She said: "Atrocities and police excesses on Dalits and minorities are continuing un­abated, and the NCP, despite having the Home portfolio, hasn't been able to stop it. It seems to be an effort to drive Muslims away from the Congress, perhaps, to the Sama­jwadi Party. I have received numerous com­plaints from Muslims that they are being ha­rassed by police probing various cases, including the bomb blasts."

She claimed that the she had informed Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R R Patil about the issue in the presence of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh but "things have not improved".

Accusing the NCP of using money power to "get things done,", she said: "We can't do the same. We have to strengthen the party if we have to contest the elections on our own.

She, however, said the final decision will be taken by the party high command since "we are not a regional party".

On groupism within the party, hinting at the Deshmukh group's displeasure over im­portance given to Narayan Rane of late, she said: "These people don't do anything and when someone comes from outside, they lobby against him. These are the people who feel insecure because of newcomers like Rane."

Taking a dig at the Deshmukh group, she said: "If you are so powerful, why don't we have a majority in the Assembly? The NCP is racing ahead and you are pulling legs of our own partymen."

Commenting on the forthcoming by-elec­tion for the Rajya Sabha seat from Maha­rashtra Assembly, following the death of NCP's Vasant Chavan, Rau said that nothing had been decided on an alliance with the NCR Stating that a decision would be taken after the by poll were announced, she said that changed equations in the Assembly -Congress has become the single largest party leaving behind NCP-would also be dis­cussed.

Speaking at the meeting, held at Tilak Bhavan, All India Congress Committee (AICC) office-bearer and State incharge Margaret Alva expressed her inability in en­suring that political appointments on gov­ernment-run corporations were made.

She said that about 5,000 applications had been received and the seats had been vacant since the Deshmukh govern­ment assumed power in 2004. She said that she did not have any powers to do anything and that only Deshmukh could make the ap­pointments.

Revenue Minister Narayan Rane said that the forthcoming elections were not easy He said that though the strength of the Congress had increased in the Assembly efforts should be made to increase the number to over 200 in the 288-member Assembly.

The farmers' suicides issue also came up for discussion. Rau lamented the suicides of farmers had continued even after the an­nouncement of relief packages by the State and the Centre. She said that the situation would be reviewed by the party in the six most affected districts of Vidarbha again.


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