Kolhapur/Satara: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday accused the BJP of destroying tolerance and secularism, which he termed as the soul of the country.
“Tolerance and secularism is our country’s soul but Bhartiya Janata Party(BJP) has taken a stand to destroy this under the name of ‘Operation Lotus’, said Pawar.
Addressing a press conference at Satara after garlanding the mausoleum of Padmbhushan Karmveer Bhaurao Patil on the occasion of his 64th death anniversary, Pawar said that BJP was creating religious crookedness.
It is a dangerous policy of the BJP to gain power by doing anything and if it does not get, it increases the power struggle, said the veteran leader.
Pawar said that BJP formed the governments by splitting MLAs of other parties in Maharashtra, Karnataka and MP.
On the editorial in Daily Samana, in which Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut criticised NCP and Pawar, the Maratha strongman said “Raut could have not known what we do in NCP, but if someone writes such things we choose to ignore it”.
Criticising state chief minister Eknath Shinde, Pawar said he would have to accept orders from the BJP high command as the party (BJP) has a specific system to give such orders.
So far there has been no discussion on seat distribution for coming elections between Maha Vikas Aghadi partners, Pawar said, adding he would hold deliberations with allies including Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) during his net visit to Mumbai.
He said that the NCP is contesting limited seats in Karnataka assembly elections and that would not affect the fortunes of the Congress.
