M A I N   N E W S

No division in NCP: Pawar

NEW DELHI, Feb 15 (PTI) — A day after voicing reservations over inclusion of his party colleague P.A. Sangma in the Constitution Review Commission, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar today justified it saying his presence would be “helpful” in preserving and protecting Parliamentary democracy.

“There are no two views in the party on Mr Sangma joining the commission in his personal capacity,” he told reporters today following discussions with Mr Sangma.

Admitting that his party had passed a resolution against constitution of such a commission, Mr Pawar said Mr Sangma’s presence in it and his association with parliament for a number of years would be helpful in preserving and protecting Parliamentary democracy, especially “When one group is consistently working against Parliamentary system”.

He said Mr Sangma has been included in the commission in his personal capacity and denied a charge that his nomination would mean that the NCP had come closer to the BJP.

Explaining the background of his party’s resolution against the constitution of the commission, Mr Pawar said this was because it was felt that there was a “hidden agenda” to disturb the basic structure of the Constitution and effect a change in Parliamentary system.

Mr Pawar said commission chairman Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah as also the government had clarified that there was no question of disturbing the basic structure as also altering the Parliamentary democracy.

He hailed Justice Venkatachaliah as a man of “integrity, honesty and commitment” and as long Mr K. Parasaran, Mr Sangma and he were there in the commission, they would not allow any mischief from any quarters.

Replying to a question whether Mr Sangma was guilty of indiscipline, he said Mr Sangma did try to contact him before accepting the government offer but could not do so as he was not available.

At the same time, he said there was no question of the party withdrawing its resolution opposing the panel.

The NCP President dismissed suggestions that the inclusion of Mr Sangma in the panel would have any effect on the party’s coalition government with Congress in Maharashtra.

He also said his party was fighting the BJP in the current Assembly elections in four states.

Denying there was any division in the party on the issue, Mr Pawar said he had contacted all party working committee members on telephone to discuss it.

The NCP President expressed confidence that if there was any effort to bring in any “hidden agenda”, Mr Sangma would be the “first person who will walk out and dissociate from any such type of efforts”.

He said Mr Sangma’s presence would be helpful in protecting the interests of minorities as also thinking of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, especially on issues relating to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.

Asked whether Mr Sangma would raise the issue of barring persons of foreign origin from occupying high places, Mr Pawar said the NCP leader would raise whatever issues were in the national interest.

He said his party had raised the issue of foreign origin in its programme and election manifesto.

He replied in the negative when asked if Mr Sangma could join the Vajpayee government in his personal capacity.