Making a comeback after two years on a public forum with his own style of oratory he is known for, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Sunday put an end to all the speculations of him leaving the party. Thanking party leaders for supporting him, Bhujbal attacked BJP of playing vendetta politics and said, "Hum bache hai, hum aur bhi Ladenge," (I have survived, I will continue to fight).
After spending total of 26 months behind bars in a money laundering case, Bhujbal came out of jail in the last month. While he stayed away from public functions and his silence gave room for speculations that he might be unhappy with his party and he may take a call of leaving the party.
However, making it very clear amidst loud cheers of his party workers, Bhujbal said that he will not be leaving the party. "There is no question of I am leaving the party. Whatever mistakes that we all have committed, we will rectify them by staying in the party he said."
Thanking party workers for their constant support, especially NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Bhujbal said, "In these two years span, Pawar was always in contact with my family members. There were many leaders from the party who constantly visited me in the jail." He also thanked BJP leaders like Dilip Kamble for openly coming in his support.
Claiming that the state government played vendetta politics by arresting him, he said, "They (the state government) carried out raids after raids on my properties but they have not found anything against me. Still, they kept me in the jail for two years."
"Today I am out of jail is only because of the judiciary. I will continue to give evidences of my innocence and I am very confident that the judiciary will give me justice," he said.
Opening attack against the government in his own style, Bhujbal said, "The emergency which was imposed by Indira Gandi was as per the provisions of constitution. However, today's emergency imposed by the present government is totally unconstitutional and we will have to come together to fight against it."
Making sarcastic comments on government's claims, Bhujbal challenged the government to show them proof of development at least in four districts. "Forget about 'Achhe Din', we will be happy if we get at least our earlier good days back," he made sarcastic remark.
Bhujbal also made his stand clear on Maratha reservation and he said that he is in full support of reservations for Maratha. "There are some people who deliberately created my image as anti Maratha reservation. However, I am of the opinion that Maratha community should get the reservation and I will fight for it by taking the OBC community's support," he said.
