Advancing his trip, Nationalist Congress Party chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar left for Delhi from Pune on Sunday afternoon, fuelling speculation that the UPA government may have sought his help in breaking the deadlock over Jan Lokpal.
Mr. Pawar, who was to leave for Delhi only on Monday, skipped the inauguration of a Zilla Parishad building here.
An NCP leader from Pune and close Paswar associate told The Hindu that the “Hazare agitation” could be a reason. “He was called to Delhi as the situation in the capital is delicate,” the NCP leader said.
Mr. Pawar, who has served as Maharashtra Chief Minister four times, has closely followed the agitations launched by the social activist in the past —an experience the Congress could tap into.
So far Mr. Pawar has not been involved in the Lokpal process, after he was forced to quit the Group of Ministers constituted to draft the government's version of the Lokpal Bill. Mr. Pawar has not had a healthy relationship with the anti-corruption crusader, whose allegations forced three NCP Ministers to quit the Maharashtra Cabinet. Suresh Jain, Nawab Malik and Padmasinh Patil had to resign as the Justice P.B. Sawant commission indicted them on corruption charges levelled by Mr. Hazare.
Reports say Mr. Pawar's views are now being sought by the UPA government as its initial strategy to deal with the Hazare camp failed.
Cautious stand
The NCP has maintained a cautious stand on Mr. Hazare's agitation. On Saturday, Mr. Pawar's nephew and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the party was not against Mr. Hazare. “There are no two opinions that corruption must be cleaned up, and the Bill such as this [Lokpal] can be debated,” he told the media in Mumbai.
Keywords: Hazare fast, Ramlila Maidan, anti-corruption movement, UPA government, mediation
bravo, MMS, very good choice, where manish tiwari failed, NCP boss will definitely succeed. VINASH KALE VIPAREET BUDDHI. JAI HIND
Already, too many people have messed up facing this Agitation by Anna Hazare. Why not then, Mr. Sharad pawar also. ? Let him join the Bandwagon.
UPA's strategy to ignore Jan Lokpal is because they are scared that all their leaders will face corruption charges if this Bill is accepted without major modifications.If the PM does not see the writing on the wall he will end up betraying the Nation and the am admi under the leadership of Anna Hazare will force the Dynasty and the UPA to bite the dust.The writing is clear on the wall - all corrupt leaders in Egypt Libya Syria etc are thrown out and the turn of our leaders is nearing.
Pawar?? Of all the people? See how sincere the government is.
How come Pawar has a healthy relationship with Annaji. He has been called to Delhi as some of NCP leaders complained about center skipping NCP in decision making. Congress called Pawar just save the government at center by pacifying the NCP leader either by giving him more money or land etc. Also, how come Mr. Pawar who is highly corrupt can negotiate with Anna who is fighting against corruption.
One more wrong move by Dr.Singh, the whole nation knows that about Mr Pawar's dubious dealings and its foolish on the part of the Government to believe that Team Anna is going to listen to Pawar or heed to his requests or advice.
Private members’ bills are just to self-project image by respective persons who wants to come to limelight and cashing the opportunity for self publicity rather than contributing anything to integrate people’s power so as to strengthen the anti-corruption movement. Bills being introduced by private member may enable the discussion of Lokpal provisions that were pushed through Team Anna. Yet civil society leaders may have to object this when their version of the Bill will get trashed and private member's bills get precedence for debate in Parliament. As the Lokpal bill is already with the standing committee and not in uniformity with Team Anna’s bill, private bill on a same subject is not eligible to be referred to the same panel. Government must know that the only option available is to withdraw the bill and prompt an armistice with civil society enabling the Jan Lokpal to be introduced in the Parliament.
Now the Govt is on backfoot and looking for all the means to end this protest.
Too many conjectures are being made by the media.Following the legislative procedure was a sheer waste of time and is nothing but a delaying tactic.One can not trust Mr.Singhvi,the Chairman of the Standing Committee, as he had once defended DuPont and almost defended the Lottery magnates against the Kerala government. He will do anything for money. The Bill has been debated for 2 months by the Joint Drafting Committee and has been considered 8 times in the last 42 years.The Central Government is just playing games hoping that the protest may fizzle out or Anna Hazare may pass away. There is no sincerity in enacting this legislation.Even the lower functionaries in the government are being protected since they form a sizeable vote bank.
If the real anti-corrutpion law ever gets to become a law, this man NCP leader Sharad Pawar would be one of the firsts to go behind bars.
Janlokpal bill is yet to be passed and there is inordinate delay in fin alising the same and placing the bill before the parliament for final approval. Both the government as well as ANNA'S TEAM should sit together and arrive at a conclusion so that the same can be solved at the earliest. Parliament is uncessarily wasting time in debating over the same thereby not making any progress in other fields. Let anna create awareness amongst the puiblic but let him not undertake fast and deteriorate his health and creating disturbances and causing annoyance to the government.
With Pawar himself under a nimbus and his equation with Anna Hazare nothing to shout about,one wonders what advice or assistance he could provide to the government at this late stage.The spokespersons of the Congress burnt the bridges for the party by prevaricating every so often with the litany that the UPA2 had the people's mandate when it is clear as day the the mandate they speak of is not worth anything in the present circumstances when the whole country is up in arms against the Corrupt Government.While it is known that Pawar's efforts if any to persuade Anna to relent or at least soften his atand would result in Zilch,let us wait and watch how the next Act and the next Scene in the Drama unfolds after the intermission.
Mr. Pawar, as per the Wiki Leak Sources has a deposit worth of 30000 Crores Rupees in Swiss Banks. If this is true, What does the Congress expect Pawar to do to resolve the crisis? First of all let Mr. Pawar deny & refute the allegations & subject himself to an independent Enquiry. If he is absolved of the charges, let him have a dialogue with Anna.
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