I am not anti-poor, says Rahul Bajaj

Mumbai, June 10 : Noted industrialist Rahul Bajaj today said he was not anti-poor and those who criticise him were not aware of the history of Bajaj family in Maharashtra for over 100 years.

Some pro-reservation students today shouted slogans against him at a function where the latter received the 'Marathwada Mitra' award, instituted by the Marathwada Lok Vikas Manch, here this evening.

The students were protesting Mr Bajaj's anti-reservation views.

Refraining from making any direct comment on protests by the Samtawadi Chattra Bharti students against him, Mr Bajaj said the Swaminarayan temple that was built in Wardha by his grandfather late Jamnalal Bajaj, was the first temple to allow backward class devotees in for prayer.

On the occasion, the industrialist recalled his family's close association with Mahatma Gandhi and said it was at the insistence of his grandfather that Gandhiji came to Sevagram in Wardha, from Sabarmati.

He also recalled how his name 'Rahul' was given by former Prime Minister late Jawaharlal Nehru, who had decided the name also for his daughter Indira Gandhi's eldest son. ''When Ms Gandhi met my mother, she (Indira) told her that you have stolen my son's name.'' Mr Bajaj further said that he belongs to the Congress and Gandhian ideology and asked people to forget ''what happened recently.'' On his candidature for the Rajya Sabha byelection not being supported by Congress, he said, ''I have nothing to do with differences between political parties. I am independent and want support of all parties to contribute to the development of the country in my own way.'' He, however, criticised the Left parties in a veiled manner and said they were closing the mouth of the Government, before even it opened up, therefore, the reform process in the country was slow.

While receiving the award, Mr Bajaj said he was accepting the honour on behalf of his brother Madhur Bajaj, who looks after the Bajaj auto unit in Marathwada, and his wife Kumud Bajaj, who runs the Kamal Nayan Bajaj hospital in Aurangabad.

Mr Bajaj is the independent candidate for the June 15 byelection to Rajya Sabha for the seat falling vacant due to the death of senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. Mr Bajaj is being supported by Shiv Sena-BJP and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for the bypoll.

On the occasion, former Union Minister Bapu Kalbate, who was presented the 'Marathwada Bhushan' award, said globalisation should be all inclusive. ''I am happy that the world is becoming a global village, not at the cost of poor people.'' (Eds; pick up suitably from earlier takes

UNI

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