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The Rediff Interview/Sharad Pawar

'Why should the Maharashtra government consult me on the Thackeray issue?'

Former defence minister and Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar emphatically denied that the Maharashtra government had consulted him before initiating action against Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

Pawar told Amberish K Diwanji and Onkar Singh that the state government was capable of taking independent decisions.

He also said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had met him to elicit support on the autonomy resolution. "I told him that I have not seen the report and would not be able to give my views on it. I asked him to leave the resolution with me, so that I can study it carefully before giving my comment," Pawar said. Excerpts from the exclusive interview:

What is the NCP's stand on the present crisis that has been precipitated by the Maharashtra government's decision to prosecute Bal Thackeray for his inflammatory writing in Saamna [Encounter] in 1992? The Sena has threatened to create law-and-order problems if the state government tries to arrest the Sena chief.

It is not a question of the NCP, it is a question of the State of Maharashtra. After the Bombay riots of 1992-93, the then state government had appointed a commission of inquiry to find out the reasons for the riots and the people behind them. Over 1,000 people were killed and property worth crores of rupees was destroyed. The commission was headed by a sitting judge of the Bombay high court, Justice B N Srikrishna. After four years of intensive investigation, Justice Srikrishna came to some conclusions. He made suggestions how to improve the overall functioning of the government. He even named some government officials and political leaders responsible.

The Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government decided not to take any action on the report. Some citizens moved a special leave petition before the Supreme Court. Their plea was that since the state government had appointed the commission it had to implement its findings.

That government was replaced by an alliance of the Congress, NCP and other like-minded parties. The new government told the apex court that it would respect Justice Srikrishna's report and act on it.

This was three months back. Now action is being taken. Three months back assembly proceedings were stalled by the BJP and Sena. They were demanding action against Samajwadi Party Bombay chief Abu Azmi because he had made an inflammatory speech. When someone asked if there was any other similar case pending, the state government had replied that one was pending against Bal Thackeray. The state home minister had categorically said that if action is taken against Azmi then he would have to take action against Thackeray as well.

This is the background. Now the state government has decided to send both cases to court. They will file the chargesheet at an appropriate time. Suddenly someone says the whole country will be on fire. That if Thackeray is arrested, Article 356 will be used against the state government. The Sena's Union ministers have decided to step down to put pressure on the National Democratic Alliance. It is now up to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to decided what to do.

Do you think they are blackmailing the NDA government?

I would say this is pressure tactics.

Did the state government consult you before taking a decision?

Why should the state government consult me? The chief minister and the deputy chief minister must have consulted each other before deciding to take action against Thackeray.

Do you think the Vajpayee government will use Article 356 against the Maharashtra government?

They have had a bad experience in Bihar. After dismissing the Rabri Devi government they had to backtrack when they realised that they do not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha. The situation has not changed since. I don't think they would dare to take this kind of risk. There are many parties in the NDA who are against the misuse of Article 356. They will not allow it.

There are reports that the prime minister may summon Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilas Deshmukh. Is he coming to Delhi?

The chief minister is coming to Delhi on Saturday to attend a population conference. He might come a day earlier. The prime minister is free to talk to him and try to find a solution.

Is it true that the NCP was on the verge of a split and Thackeray had managed to lure some of your MLAs? It is said that Bhujbal initiated action against the Sena chief to prevent this.

Thackeray has no contact with the NCP. There is no truth in what you are saying.

Farooq Abdullah called on you recently. What did he say?

He asked me to support the autonomy resolution that the Jammu and Kashmir assembly adopted recently. I told him that I had not read the resolution and that he should leave the document with me. After I have read it, we can discuss the matter.

He also told me that this was not a sudden development. He had sent a draft copy to the Union government six months back. Three months ago, they had asked for some clarifications, which he provided.

What does he mean by autonomy?

He says he has been misquoted in the media. That is why there is such a furore. He requested me to read the report and say something on it. He and his colleagues are meeting various political parties to elicit their response on the issue.

After rejecting the resolution, the prime minister called him for talks and then the home minister said the government would sort out the matter. What do you make of these moves?

Abdullah also feels there is a possibility of finding a solution to the state's problems. Particularly the autonomy part. He might just be right.

Coming back to Thackeray, do you think the Bombay police will be able to handle the situation?

I have seen the efficiency of the Bombay police during the riots and later when a series of bomb blasts rocked the city. They are capable of handling any eventuality.

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