Indore: Against the backdrop of Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav’s attacks on UPA and Congress, Union Minister Manish Tewari today said the ruling party and the alliance know how to run a coalition.
“The UPA and Congress have always shown that they know how to run a coalition and the current UPA government will complete its full term,” the Congress leader told reporters after inaugurating the Language Journalism Festival of SAARC countries, organised by the Indore Press Club, here.
“The people of the country do not like instability and they treat those who create instability in a little tough manner,” Tewari remarked.
Yadav had two days ago called Congress “cheat” and “clever”. When asked about it, Tewari said “we respect Yadav and other partners of UPA a lot. He is a senior leader and everyone should follow basic courtesies while indulging in political dialogue....We always try to sort out differences with our allies in a creative manner.”
Tewari further said “as the general elections are about a year ahead, the government has focused on strengthening the economy and putting back economic reforms on track. We also want to pass Food Security Bill and other important legislations as soon as possible”.
Terming the Third Front as “the most enduring mirage of Indian politics”, he said “if we look back on the 20-year history of Indian politics, then we will find that it was an era of coalition governments.”
On the issue of actor Sanjay Dutt’s sentence in 1993 Mumbai blasts case and demand from some quarters that he be pardoned, Tewari said the Supreme Court had arrived at the decision after following a due legal course.
“The President and Governors have some constitutional rights but it is a matter between the concerned person and those having the powers,” he said.
On efforts to promote Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as BJP’s candidate for Prime Minister’s post, Tewari said, “BJP should answer this question....whether it has projected Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate or not.
“Speculation is there but then suddenly Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) tweets on the issue, BJP should first sort out opposition from within.”
Congress contests elections on policies and the party never worries about who is the opposition’s candidate, he said.
On the possibility of Rahul Gandhi being projected as candidate for PM, Tewari said “he has already clarified his position, but it is a fact that it was a wish of millions of Congressmen that he should play more diversified role. Respecting those sentiments only he became the party’s Vice President.”
Cong rejects Trinamool’s demand for UPA govt’s resignation
New Delhi: Congress today rejected Trinamool Congress’ demand for immediate resignation of UPA government following DMK’s withdrawal of support saying the government will complete its full term.
“There is nothing new in what TMC is saying. It wanted the government to go when it had withdrawn support from UPA even six months back. But the government did not fall even as they withdrew support. Government will complete its full term,” AICC in-charge for West Bengal Shakeel Ahmed told PTI.
TMC all-India general secretary Mukul Roy said in Kolkata ealier in the day that Manmohan Singh-government has become a “minority” after DMK’s withdrawal of support.
“They can remain in power by utilising the number game in Parliament. But it first became a minority government when Trinamool Congress withdrew support last year and now by DMK. This government has no moral right to continue in office for a single moment... We want this government to resign immediately,” he said.
TMC, which was the second largest constituent of UPA after Congress and has 19 Lok Sabha members, had withdrawn support from UPA government in September last year.