Mumbai, June 27: (PTI) Senior Maharashtra leaders of the Congress and the NCP, allies that share power both in the state as well as in the Centre, are involved in a war of words over the fuel price hike issue.
First, it was Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar who said on Saturday that his party was against the fuel price rise by the Centre, as it has increased the hardships of the common man.
Yesterday, in an indirect reference to Pawar”s comments, Union Rural Development Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, told reporters that “when one is in alliance, one must not only share power, but also its accountability.”
Today, senior NCP leader R R Patil joined the verbal duel, rubbishing the Congress leader”s criticism of his NCP bosses.
“When some time ago, the prices of agro commodities were on the rise the world over, not only the Opposition, but also the allies (read Congress) targeted NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for the price rise.
“At that time, no one gave a thought to sharing power and also accountability,” Patil said, in a veiled reference to Deshmukh”s attack on Ajit Pawar.
The statement came a day after Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who belongs to Congress, said the state government is considering how relief can be provided to consumers and the common man, hit by the hike.
—-PTI—-