Pawar rules out return to Congress(I)

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 12. There was no problem in the Congress(I)- Nationalist Congress Party coalition government in Maharashtra, the NCP president, Mr. Sharad Pawar, said today. He also dismissed the possibility of his returning to the Congress(I) as suggested by the senior Congress(I) leader, Mr K Karunakaran.

At the NCP Working Committee meeting today, some members expressed ``surprise and horror'' at the Congress(I) allowing its State unit to join hands with the Shiv Sena for the election of a Congress(I) deputy mayor of the New Mumbai municipal corporation. Mr. Pawar said the State coordination committee would handle the issue.

Later talking to reporters, the NCP spokesman, Mr. Devendra Dwivedi, said the party broadly supported the Government's stand on the Sri Lanka crisis, on the initiative to release leaders of the Hurriyat Conference and the setting up of the National Commission on Population. However, the subsidy cuts came in for criticism as did the handling of the drought situation.

Mr. P. A. Sangma, general secretary, said a national policy on water and an action plan were essential as studies had shown India would suffer from water famine in 20 years if something was not done now. Mr. Tariq Anwar, general secretary, and Mr. Praful Patel, party treasurer, were also present.

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Section  : National
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