INTERVIEW: SHARAD PAWAR
Party must not split Is Sharad Pawar two-timing those who are gunning for Congress president Narasimha Rao? According to the dissidents like K. Karunakaran, Balram Jakhar, Rajesh Pilot, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel, Pawar has once again granted Rao a reprieve. They had Rao loyalists like Devendra Dwivedi on the mat at the last Congress Working Committee meeting, but Pawar dashed their plans to put the matter to vote. While the anti-Rao camp feels that even the pressure of a vote would have elicited a promise from Rao of a graceful exit, the fact remains that they would have been outnumbered. Pawar knew it and avoided matters coming to a head at the meeting itself.
But matters did come to a boil on the streets as two groups of the Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress clashed outside the Ashoka Road residence of Pranab Mukherjee (where CWC members were to meet informally for follow-up discussions).
Though the dissidents had indicated earlier that they were in no mood to attend the Pranab dinner they (including Pawar) did get into one car to drive down to the venue. The clash gave them the best excuse to turn away declaring they had no intention of being beaten up by Rao loyalists.
Sharad Pawar spoke to THE WEEK about his role in the Rao crisis.
Excerpts:
QUESTION: Do you feel that Rao should now step down as party president?
ANSWER: This is an important question. But since I am a member of the highest forum of the party, that is the Congress Working Committee, it is not right that I discuss this matter or give my views on this issue in public. Whatever I have to say I have already said in the CWC.
The general perception is that you want to keep your feet in both the boats.
This is not correct. The situation is that we cannot allow a split in the party at any cost. We should not allow anyone to lead the party to such a situation.
Is there danger of a split on the Rao issue?
No.
It is no secret that there are two camps. One is for Rao’s ouster and the other is of his loyalists.
I do not see it as camps. There is a difference of opinion among the leaders. Just because of this the party cannot be allowed to split. In the Congress, on many occasions there have been a differences of opinion among the leaders, but wisdom always dawns on them and the matter is resolved.
What is that one factor that will resolve this issue?
As I said, wisdom will dawn.
On whom?
On all. It is not a question of any one individual. It is not only Rao who is responsible for the state the party is in today. We are all responsible. No one individual can be held responsible for the performance of the party in the elections. I am responsible for how we fared in Maharashtra just as the others are elsewhere.
What about differences in the party on Rao stepping down as president.
The matter will be resolved. The biggest challenge before the party is to restore the Congress position vis-a-vis the masses after the elections. We have lost severely in the whole country. The senior leaders have to strive to improve the morale of all Congressmen and give confidence to the masses.
It is significant that our traditional support base has shifted away from us. We have to understand why and take corrective measures. For two months we have sat in the CWC and discussed this. The discussions are not complete yet. The thrust is to restore the position of the Congress party.
Has this task been made more difficult by the Rao crisis?
Maybe.... But the important point is we all have to work very hard.
Have the various allegations of corruption against Rao affected the party’s image badly?
The issues are before the court. I do not want to comment on anything which is subjudice. Anyway a decision is expected soon from the court. So I have no comments on this.
But Congress leaders as well as the MPs are discussing the matter openly. In fact, you too have been talking to them in terms of doing something to save the party.
Yes, I have said that. I mentioned earlier that we have to think about restoring the party position vis-a-vis the masses. Any honest Congressman will be worried and upset about the future of the party and should want to do something about it.
Some of your colleagues in the CWC have accused you of providing Rao breathing time everytime the pressure mounts on him to quit.
We cannot allow the party to split or let any individual just go like that. Differences of opinion have to be sorted out. We have to work for a consensus.
Do you have your compulsions for bailing out Rao? It is rumoured that you are being blackmailed on the basis of some secret files.
This is all humbug. This is a carnard being spread by some people.
Is it a question of Rao’s successor that is keeping you from speaking your mind. You are in the running too.
I am not going to disclose any names now. These matters are under dicussion in the party’s highest forum.
--RASHMI SAKSENA
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