'Include UPA allies in UPA-Left Coordination Comt'

Dehra Dun, Sep 17: Nationalist Congress Party President and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar emphatically pleaded for inclusion of the UPA allies in the UPA-Left Coordination Committee as the Third National Convention of the NCP got underway here today.

''In view of our motto of strengthening the forces of nationalism with an emphasis on the egalitarian and secular ethos of the Indian Republic and combating fundamentalism and secularism, NCP was the first party, which openly demanded a UPA Left Coordination Committee,'' he observed while inaugurating the National Convention.

The political resolution was moved by Mr P A Sangma.

''We have always been trying to strengthen the UPA through consultation and frequent dialogues and discussion,'' he said and recalled that in the last convention of the party in 2003, ''we appealed for the maximum unity among the democratic, Left and secular forces.'' Mr Pawar said the composition of the UPA represented the maximum national unity in India. It was not merely the number of political parties within and outside UPA but very large supporting mass base of the alliance and our government has added a new dimension to Indian politics.

Stating that the UPA has indeed become a ''uniquely popular alliance'', Mr Pawar said the NCP believed the real message of the UPA was the broadest possible unity among the secular and progressive forces of the country.

Mr Pawar said his party has ''experienced the UPA spirit with a positive note and we want the UPA spirit to continue till we realise the dream of the freedom struggle.''

Referring to the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the NCP supremo said, ''we are committed to making the Government transparent and accountable, a special mention in this regard is the RTI Act, which has empowered all citizens with the right to access information and has made it obligatory for all public functionaries, to share information on demand. NCP endorses all these efforts by the UPA Government.'' Acknowledging the ''guidance and support from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mr Pawar said he was obliged for the ''esteemed cooperation'' of his colleagues in the UPA Government for working together with him towards achieving the objectives of the UPA's Common Minimum Programme and taking the nation ahead for creating a harmonious and prosperous society.

''Each one of us in the UPA government has been contributing in our own way towards achieving the collective goal of overall national development,'' he observed.

Heaping lavish praise on his Cabinet colleague and NCP leader Praful Patel, Mr Pawar said the Ministry of Civil Aviation has been praised for its commendable performance.

It was not only for the modernisation of the airports but also for the progress made in entire aviation industry. NCP enjoys a feeling of pride mentioning that various surveys by the media agencies rated Union Civil Aviation Minister as number one in terms of performance.

Mr Pawar spoke of many initiatives for social justice taken by the UPA Government in more than two years of its rule.

The Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Reservation Bill were the indicators of the Government's determination to improve the living conditions of the poor in the country.

''But we have to ensure that overall development of the nation becomes a mission for the entire populace,'' he said, adding, ''NCP believes in reform and human face. No reform should deform our basic commitment to social justice.''

UNI