The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday portrayed a picture of a united Democratic Front with a common objective to expose the ‘double standards’ of right wing organisations allegedly supporting (Hindu) terrorism and the MNS agitation against north Indians in Mumbai.
Top rung leaders from both the parties expressed their anguish over Maharashtra being targeted as soft state on north Indian agitations. They also came in support of the investigating agencies probing the alleged right wing links in Malegaon blasts.
The common theme that came across strongly was that Maharashtra — with its glorious past and present — will always be at the forefront of national integrity.
NCP president Sharad Pawar took the lead in refurbishing the battered image of Maharashtra. Setting aside their personal ambitions, top leaders of the alliance came on a common platform to renew their pledge to combat the MNS agitation on a warfooting and expose organisations that were threatening the integrity of the country on the pretext of fighting terrorism.
At a public rally held in Govandi, Pawar said, “It is shocking to note that political organisations, which accused the Manmohan Singh government of diluting the POTA to combat terrorism, are themselves advocating the theory of terrorism.”
He said, “Terrorism has no religion. Any individual, irrespective of any community or religion, should be dealt sternly is found guilty.” In a scathing attack against the saffron parties, he said, “Sensing that they are getting exposed, they have adopted a new tactic to divert attention by accusing the investigating agencies for targeting the army.”
“I can proudly claim that the Indian Army is absolutely committed to the cause of national integrity. But it is likely that an individual, who has been brainwashed in some doctrine, made it to the organisation,” he said. Pawar said he wanted the Congress and the NCP workers to come out on the streets to protect the north Indians from becoming victims of the MNS campaign.
In a sarcastic comment against the MNS, he said, “I will urge its leader to first learn to keep his family together instead of indulging in divisive politics.”
Meanwhile, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh reassured his administration’s commitment to protect the north Indians. Senior leader Gurudas Kamat (MP) said, “Divisive politics have no place in Mumbai or Maharashtra.”
