SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA
DELHI


THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS



M A I N   N E W S

Time for me to step back: Pawar

Sharad PawarSholapur, September 28
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has said younger leaders should be given more responsibilities in the party and suggested he would like to slowly step back and don the role of a "guide."

"It is time for the younger generation to play a greater role and for me to slowly step back. Isn't that a good idea," 69-year-old Pawar said at an election rally in Sholapur yesterday setting of speculation whether he was talking of any plan to retire from active politics.

"I have started getting old. Now that the people have elected me to a five-year term, I will complete that term and return to the state and hand over responsibilities to younger leaders," said the Union Agriculture minister.

Both Congress and NCP have fielded several young candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls.

Reacting to Pawar's comments, NCP general secretary D P Tripathi said his remarks were just a reiteration of the party's position that "we are there to encourage the youth and the younger generation." "This(remarks) is not to control, contain rebellion or to garner sympathy votes," Tripathi said. — PTI

Back

 

 

Advani to ‘distance himself’ from politics

L K AdvaniNew Delhi, September 28
A week after a party leader suggested that his political life was virtually over, a Hindu religious figure has said that BJP leader L K Advani has expressed his inclination to "distance himself" from politics.

"He (Advani) expressed a view to distance himself from politics but was not clear when and at what time," Swami Vishveshwara Teerth of Pejawar Mutt told reporters here after Advani called on him.

The swami, who is on a visit here, told PTI that Advani did not say he wanted to retire.

The swami told him that the guidance of a senior leader like him is needed in BJP and politics. "So, for this reason he should not move away from it (politics)," he said.

The BJP, however, sought to downplay his statement.

Party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters "We keep meeting sadhus and sants to consult them and seek their blessings and guidance. The views of Swamiji should not be seen in political light."

A week ago, BJP leader and former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parikkar had compared Advani to a rancid pickle and said had said his political career was more or less over.

Calling on him on the occasion of Vijaydasami to seek his blessings, Advani told Swami Vishweswara, "I don't like to continue in politics. I desire to stay far away from politics".

The swami quoted Advani as saying, "....since there are differences of opinion...I have served for so many years. I want to be far away from politics. He (Advani) expressed the opinion to remain far away from politics." He said Advani has not said he will retire from politics. — PTI

Back
 





HOME PAGE | Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Opinions |
| Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi |
| Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail |