The United Progressive Allinace is “united” on the Lokpal issue. This was made clear by NCP chief and Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Saturday, saying that there is “no division” in the ruling coalition on it. “There is no division between the Congress and its allies and everyone wants a strong Lokpal Bill,” Mr Pawar said, according to an agency report. “We are all with the Prime Minister on the issue and everyone wants smooth resolution of the matter. We all are of the same view,” he said, dismissing suggestions of any problems between the Congress and the NCP.
He dismissed as totally false reports that he had been asked by the government to tackle the Anna Hazare issue. “Neither anyone discussed the issue with me nor have I discussed it with anyone,” he said. His comments came after NCP spokesman D.P. Tripathi dubbed as needless the arrest of Mr Hazare and that the UPA should have consulted its allies on the matter. “Errors would not have been committed, if allies had been consulted,” he said.
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi ignored questions on Mr Hazare. Without answering questions as to what is his message for Mr Hazare, he left the AICC headquarters soon after a function to welcome PRP chief Chiranjeevi to the party fold.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said: “I want to ask the BJP a simple question, whether the party or Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will extend their support if Varun Gandhi introduces the Jan Lokpal Bill as a private member’s bill in Parliament.”