Sharad Pawar's Advice As Rahul Gandhi's Savarkar Comment Threatens Alliance
NDTV
Sharad Pawar reportedly spoke to both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi at the opposition parties' meeting in which Uddhav Thackeray's Sena faction was a notable absentee
At an opposition meeting that Uddhav Thackeray skipped on Monday over Rahul Gandhi's Savarkar comments, Sharad Pawar advised the Gandhis that the Congress must avoid speaking on what is an emotional subject for Shiv Sena leaders.
Mr Pawar, who crafted the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition in 2019 by bringing together the ideologically disparate Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena, intervened after Mr Thackeray warned against "fissures" in the Maharashtra coalition caused by Mr Gandhi's comments.
The veteran leader reportedly spoke to both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi at the meeting in which Mr Thackeray's Sena faction was a notable absentee. Mr Pawar emphasised that targeting VD Savarkar, a revered figure in Maharashtra, would not help the opposition alliance in the state. Mr Pawar also told Mr Gandhi that Savarkar was never a member of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), and underscored that the opposition's real fight was with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
"We should focus on issues of democracy. Controversies divert focus from the issue. Today it is about Rahul Gandhi's suspension, earlier Sanjay Raut was jailed. So we should avoid talking on emotional and emotive issues and stick to real issues," Mr Pawar reportedly said.
