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Maharashtra government too corrupt to quit, says Pawar

Sharad Pawar, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, today ruled out the possible collapse of the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government in Maharashtra, following controversial statements made by independent legislators who support the state government.

Talking to reporters at the government circuit house in Kolhapur, the former Maharashtra chief minister said alliance rulers realised they would never be elected again and so would stick together till the last date of their term to get money.

During the three-and-a-half-years the alliance government ruled, Maharashtra's credit rating went down from the first place to the seventh, said Pawar. He said this was due to both inefficiency and corruption.

The independent agency, Credit Rating Information Service of India Limited had also recently downgraded of various Maharashtra corporations, including the Krishna Valley Development Corporation, since the alliance government failed to utilise the funds on properly Pawar remarked.

The state government was interested only in awarding the contract of KVDC, not in solving the problems of the people, Pawar said, adding that various financial institutions also stopped loans to Maharashtra following the state government's failure to provide guarantees.

The Union government's money was also stopped since the state could give no guarantee for the project, he said, adding that the present situation in Maharashtra was like that of Bihar earlier.

Replying to a question, Pawar said the Congress had taken no decision on the demand for a separate Vidharba state. But the Congress has set up a committee comprising himself, former Union finance minister Manmohan Singh and others, to study demands across the country and also from Vidharba.

The Congress is expected to win the next assembly election and so has not interest in toppling the government. Any new government will take at least five years to correct the critical situation caused by the corrupt practices of the alliance government, Pawar said.

Referring to the controversial removal of Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat from the post of navy chief, Pawar, who was also the former defence minister, charged that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government had failed to handle the issue properly.

In such cases, confidence had to be raised to ensure the servicemen were not demoralised. He said he and former Union finance minister Manmohan Singh had met the prime minister in this connection and suggested that the issue be handled tactfully.

Asked about Union minister Ram Jethmalani's reported statement that Taiwan and Tibet are independent nations, prompting China to register a protest in this connection, Pawar said this showed lack of teamwork since such matters are not a matter of individual opinion.

Refferring to attacks on minority people in Gujarat, Pawar said the Congress has already demanded the dismissal of the Gujarat government on the grounds that it had failed to protect the lives and properties of minorities. He accused the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and other groups linked to them of being involved the attacks.

He also pointed out that Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi was to have called a meeting of the committee appointed to find early solutions for the long-pending Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute. The panel comprises Pawar, Joshi, Prof Madhu Dandavate and others.

The Congress would extend all help to Joshi in solving the border issue and he would attend any meeting Joshi arranges in this connection, Pawar said.

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