NCP keen to establish cordial relations with Congress: Pawar

Mumbai, Dec 23 (UNI) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar today indicated that he was keen to establish cordial relations with the Congress, after a brief spat between them over several issues, for the upcoming elections to 10 civic bodies in Maharashtra, especially the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Addressing a meet organised by city NCP minority unit here, Mr Pawar said, ''We have to stay in one house running one country. We have to take care of the nation together and so discuss our problems amongst ourselves.'' The statement gains importance in the wake of Congress president Sonia Gandhi simultaneously addressing a rally at Shivaji Park in Central Mumbai.

He severely criticised the Bhartiya Janta Party and Shiv Sena in view of the city management, especially indicating their weaknesses leading to the deluge.

''We have seen some bad times last year. If we try to forget the painful memories, it is good. But we cannot forget who is responsible for it,'' Mr Pawar said, ''Everything (Houses, grains and money) was destroyed. And all because the city was in the hands of BJP and SS. We cannot let the power go back into their hands in the BMC election,'' he added.

''NCP aims for peace and brotherhood. The country cannot progress by dividing communities. Mumbai is the face of the nation, and If it decides that NCP should run the metropolis, the effects will be far wider than the city-limits,'' he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader R R Patil said, ''NCP will not support any group that aims at dividing people or creating communal tension. In fact, we will raise our voice against such injustice.'' He stated the example of Malegaon blasts, saying that when the locals demanded that the investigation into the bomb blasts be carried out by an unbiased agency, like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), though the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had filed the chargesheet, the demand was granted.

''We want transparency in our functioning,'' he added.

Mr Patil said ''NCP wants to move ahead with support from all communities including minorities.'' ''NCP respects everyone and is strongly secular. In our next budget for the state, we shall allot more funds for the education of the minorities as it is their most important need. With education, they can become independent and progress,'' he added.

Another NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said ''We have been the ones to stand up against the Sena not when they have weakened but when they were strong.'' Aviation Mininster Praful Patel, MP Akhtar Hussain Rizvi, Arun Gujarati, Nawab Mallik, Advocate Majid Memon and Sachin Ahir were also present at the gathering.

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