PM Modi must rein in divisive forces who promote ghar wapsi: NCP chief Sharad Pawar

Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the controversial ‘ghar wapsi’ programme launched by saffron outfits. Pawar said that PM Modi must rein in such forces as it would further divide the society. “Rather than speaking about the development, some organizations have started the ‘ghar wapsi campaign thinking that the responsibility is on their shoulders over the issue. Such programs will create rift among the religions, caste and society. It is not good for the country,” Pawar said. [caption id=“attachment_2048945” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “] NCP chief Sharad Pawar.[/caption] “It will endanger the communal harmony and will also hamper development agenda which should be the focus of the government. There are several important issues which should be given more importance than ghar wapsi,” he added. He also slammed the Maharashtra government for only taking up issue of Maratha reservation and leaving out Muslims. “Illiteracy rate in backward Muslims is much higher. The previous Congress-NCP government provided reservations in jobs and education to these minority groups. Refusing to provide them reservation is an injustice. It does not suit the government which has taken an oath to take everyone along. The government is acting against the very promise they took while taking charge,” Pawar said. On the land acquisition amendment ordinance, Pawar said it would have been better if the government had held deliberations on it. “The UPA also had promulgated a few ordinances. Two committees were set up to prepare the law on land acquisition in consultation with state governments. We had suggested consent of 80 percent farmers in case of irrigated land which has been removed by the Union government in the ordinance. So, it would have been better if the deliberations had held on it,” he said. He further said that NCP has decided to contest few seats in Delhi assembly elections but they had not decided yet about forming an alliance with any party.