It should have been a day of celebrations for Sharad Pawar and his Nationalist Congress Party. But right now, the party is struggling in the wake of an embarrassing performance in the elections to the 15th Lok Sabha, shattering Pawar’s dreams of becoming prime minister by heading a coalition, and the arrest of his close aide and newly-elected member of parliament Padmasinh Patil on charges of double murder.
It couldn’t have gotten worse for NCP president Sharad Pawar as his party marks its 10th anniversary on Wednesday, June 10.
But 10 years ago, Pune was where, on May 20, Pawar spoke about his reasons for writing the letter (jointly written by him, PA Sangma and Tariq Anwar) opposing Sonia Gandhi’s nomination for prime ministership.
Pawar spoke at the prestigious Vasant Vykhyanmala spring lecture series — an annual forum that began a century ago wherein citizens gather to listen to experts speak on various subjects. His choice of platform touched the heartstrings of Punekars and the venue, Tilak Smarak Mandir, was filled with people.
Pawar elaborated on his opposition to Congress president Sonia Gandhi as prime minister stating that it was impossible for a person born abroad to have the same amount of patriotism as a person born and bred in India.
“A person born in a foreign country cannot understand the pain, sufferings and anguish of an Indian,” Pawar had said. As an example, he spoke about his feelings for the people who had been killed, orphaned or maimed during the Latur earthquake.
Such was the atmosphere that no one would have opposed Pawar then. With his groundwork done, the creation of the NCP was announced in Delhi on May 25, 1999, and the party was officially launched on June 10.
