Mumbai: The NCP on Thursday said its president Sharad Pawar had joined hands with the Congress 20 years ago, immediately after quitting it, as ideology was more important for him than personal issues. NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik made the remarks a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Pawar had tied up with the Congress despite the grand old party “humiliating” him.
Malik also sought to know why the BJP was “upset” now. Pawar had quit the Congress in 1999 over the issue of foreign origin of then Congress president Sonia Gandhi and formed the NCP in the same year. After the Maharashtra Assembly and Lok Sabha polls (held simultaneously) in 1999, the BJP had offered Deputy PM’s post to Pawar sahab and also called for forming government in the state,” Malik said.
“But Pawar sahab formed government in Maharashtra with the Congress. For him, individual ego was not a big issue, but ideology. When it comes to ideology, personal issues are not important. This was 20 years ago, but why is the BJP being upset now?” he asked.