BOMBAY: Union Defense Minister Sharad Pawar onJan.30 launched an open attack against the State leadership at a prayer meeting to mark the 45th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi organized by the Bombay Regional Congress Committee (BRC).
Addressing party workers here on Saturday, Pawar said that in the “absence of leadership” in the State, there was nobody who could “infuse moral strength in the people and keep them away from the path of violence.”
Pawar’s words gained significance in the light of mounting pressure on the Center for a change in the State leadership.
Political observers here are attaching much significance to Pawar’s speech as well as his visit to Bombay during which he met not only workers from his party but also leaders from various other political parties, including Janata Dal leader Mrinal Gore.
To drive home his point, the Defense Minister recalled an incident in 1972 when riots broke out in Pune and he was the Minister of State for Home. Socialist leader SM Joshi and former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Mohan Dharia were with him when news of a mob attacking a restaurant came.
The three rushed to the spot.
Finding the mob unrelenting, they declared that it would have to stop over their dead bodies before they could attack the restaurant. The Defense Minister exhorted party workers to be with the people. He asked them to devote the next two years In an extensive anti-communal campaign and to instill confidence among the people.
“People will be angry but this is not Lime to expect garlands,” he warmed the workers, saying unless action was not taken normalcy will not return to Bombay.
He also used the platform to launch a blistering attack on the BJP.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 5, 1993
