NCP leader Patel downplays remarks made on Sonia, Rahul

New Delhi, Feb 26 (ANI): Union Civil Aviation Minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel on Thursday sought to downplay the controversy that kicked up after controversial remarks were made about Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the so-called NCP mouthpiece Rashtravadi.

Patel said that both parties would be together in the forthcoming elections.

Patel's statement came after Rashtravadi made controversial statements against both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

"There is no problem between the NCP and the Congress. We have no difference with the Congress. We are going together in the election," Patel told reporters outside Parliament.

Patel refused to acknowledge the Rashtravadi as the mouthpiece of NCP.

"Rashtravadi is of course a magazine which was initially supported by NCP, but is not as an official mouthpiece. Today, it is not even being run by the NCP directly. This is not our mouthpiece," he added.

Congress Mumbai President Kripa Shankar Singh indicated that his party would not press the NCP for an apology over the issue.

"If they have clarified, it is okay," Singh said.

The Rashtravadi in its editorial a few days back attacked the Congress Party and its leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, provoking Congress to seek any apology from the NCP. (ANI)