Gadkari defends Pawar, blames PM for price rise

New Delhi, Jan.25 (ANI): Apparently giving a clean cheat to Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari on Monday held Prime Minister Manmohan Singh solely responsible for inflation in the country.

In an exclusive interview to Asian News International, Gadkari held Prime Minister Dr. Singh responsible for the current price rise as the head of the government and for being an economic expert.

"I won't call him (the Prime Minister) as weak. But as far as the inflation is concerned, as an economist, he has an expertise. You cannot blame Sharad Pawar for that. Ultimately, he has to take responsibility for it," Gadkari said.

"Yes. Prime Minister is a big economist. And, as far as the economic point of view, this is his expertise. And the problem is that, on the economic level, the government is complete failure and the master is responsible," he added.

Gadkari's defense of Pawar is surprisingly contrary to the criticism levelled against the minister by other political leaders. By Smita Prakash(ANI)