After Prime Minister ‘nakli NCP’ jibe at Sharad Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party NCP (SP) president on Friday responded that he will never ally with those who do not believe in parliamentary democracy.
Speaking at a rally in Maharashtra’s Nandurbar, Prime Minister Modi advised the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction to join hands with Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde respectively after the Lok Sabha elections, instead of “dying” by merging with the Congress.
“For the past four to five decades, a prominent leader from Maharashtra has been actively involved in politics. Recently, he has been making controversial remarks, expressing frustration and disappointment, particularly following the Baramati election. After consulting with numerous people, he has suggested that smaller regional parties must consider merging with the Congress if they wish to sustain themselves in the political arena.”
The PM further added, “It means nakli (duplicate) NCP and nakli Shiv Sena have made up their minds to merge with the Congress.” Both the parties are part of the INDIA coalition, grouping of Opposition parties to take on the BJP-led NDA.
Instead of merging with the Congress and subsequently dying later, join hands with Ajit Pawar and Shinde-led factions with pride, and all your dreams will come true, the PM told.
Responding to this, Pawar told reporters that parliamentary democracy is under threat under the regime of PM Modi. He cited the examples of the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren.
“Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren were arrested and put behind bars. This (the arrests) would not have been possible without the role of the Central government and Central leadership. This shows how much faith they have in the democratic system,” the party chief said, as quoted by PTI.
He further said that he cannot ally with any person, party or ideology that does not believe in parliamentary democracy, and emphasised that to maintain unity in the country, all faiths must be included and taken along.
“PM Modi’s recent speeches have been conducive to creating rifts among communities, which is dangerous for the country. Wherever things are not in the nation’s interest, neither I nor my colleagues will venture,” he said.
Pawar claimed that public opinion has gradually started changing against Modi’s ideology, which is why he appears restless, and his statements reflect this restlessness.
The NCP supremo further said that PM Modi’s recent speeches for the Lok Sabha elections are not befitting of the post of prime minister, which is an institution.
Pawar further said that PM Modi’s criticism of the Shiv Sena (UBT) by calling it “nakli” (duplicate) was inappropriate, and it was undignified to make such statements about a party which presents its stance to the people.
“Who has given the right to call it ‘nakli’? He is the prime minister and he should maintain balance. Calling it ‘nakli’ is inappropriate and undignified,” he said.
Meanwhile, referring to PM Modi’s advice, Pawar said, “Regardless of whether anybody needs us, we will act according to our conscience and won’t go against the ideology we were brought up in.”