Maharashtra government running smoothly; debutant Thackeray good CM: Sharad Pawar

NCP president Sharad Pawar talks about the health of Maharashtra coalition, the need for easing lockdown, central package and a host of issues in a telephonic interview with CL Manoj.

What is the buzz about political instability in Maharashtra and speculation about President’s rule?They are baseless. All parties are working together and our government will run smoothly. There is no question of instability. Talks about coalition troubles and buzz about dismissal of the government emanated from the press conferences of a BJP leader (Devendra Fadnavis). I must stress that a section of media too has fomented the rumour. But that won’t work.

The BJP leadership in Maharashtra is still smarting under the embarrassment and jolt it suffered after its unconstitutional, illegal and failed attempt to prop up a government after the assembly elections. It’s time it accepts the reality and cooperates with the state government’s fight against the pandemic. Covid-19 is a national issue. Maharashtra and many other states are battling it. That is no reason or ground to talk about dislodging the state government. People of Maharashtra want political and administrative stability and our government is providing them.

How do you assess CM Uddhav Thackeray?
Uddhav Thackeray is new to the government and legislature. He is shouldering the responsibility of leading a government and a coalition for the first time. However, he has many experienced ministers in his Cabinet, from the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress. I must say Thackeray has emerged as a good CM and team leader. He has a positive working style. He practices decentralisation and delegates responsibilities to ministers. He holds regular consultations with coalition partners, which helps us in solving matters by adhering to our common minimum programme. The CM himself spends long hours attending to his duties.

Are you surprised by the intensity of the pandemic in Maharashtra?
No! It is important to understand certain distinct characteristics of Maharashtra. We have many big cities, including Mumbai, which are extremely congested and have very high population density. We also have heavily populated slums and towns. For example, in Malegaon, people, especially from the minority community, work in power looms, located next to their homes or in their houses. It means people work and live together. Maharashtra has also been the hub of population traffic from across the country and abroad. These things make social distancing difficult and the infection was bound to spread. But there are some positive trends in the last few days and we are confident of turning it around.

Will we see more relaxations or tightening of lockdown in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra?
For two months, lockdown has been in place. Business, industry, factories and workplaces were all shut. Everybody cooperated even when all suffered. I don’t know what the Centre has in mind, but, I think, we have to now start opening up more. It is important for the business, industry, factories, workforce and economy to resume more activities even as we fight the pandemic. Of course, we have to follow social distancing, hygiene measures and even regulate attendances at workplaces. But, that is the way the world will now live. We are holding talks among coalition partners and consulting captains of industry and experts on how we can move forward.

Maharashtra is one state that provides employment not only to our people, but to those from UP, Bihar, other northern states and other parts of India. More than 40 trains leave Maharashtra daily, carrying migrants. During the last assembly election campaign, a senior BJP leader (Amit Shah) asked at every campaign rally: “What has Sharad Pawar done for Maharashtra?” This is what Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra have done. We have provided jobs to people from all over India. BJP can neither understand nor appreciate it.

What do you say to the UP CM’s remark that his government would decide on how migrant workers can be employed by other states in future?
He should read the Constitution, at least now, since he is a CM, so that he understands the Constitutional rights and freedom of the people.

What do you think of the manner in which migrants were sent back?
It is pathetic and shocking. First, the Centre mishandled the issue by a hasty lockdown. Now they are being sent back in an inhuman manner. I am also worried about issues they would face after reaching home.

Are you satisfied with the financial package?
Most of them were about banks and other financial institutions offering loans and credit. There was hardly any concrete stimulus package to help any sector. The package failed my expectations.

What about the package for farmers and decision on allowing them to sell produce directly across states?
Though farmers are the worst affected by the lockdown due to crop losses, lack of procurement, MSP amid deepening debt, the package has not offered them any meaningful relief. There is nothing new about allowing farmers to sell products directly to other states. During the UPA government, we held a meeting of agricultural and marketing ministers where such a decision was taken. That is why the Alphonso mangoes of Maharashtra and those from the coastal areas are sold even in Kolkata and apples from Himachal and Kashmir are available in other parts of India.

What is your assessment of the tension with China and Nepal and US President Donald Trump’s offer to negotiate?
India traditionally maintains friendly and peaceful relations with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. So, the development with Nepal disturbs me, and I hope, our government will amicably sort it out soon. I have a feeling that the Sino-Indian tension has more to do with what is going on between America and China, than between India and China. We should not entertain President Trump’s offer as we don’t need a third party intervention. India and China should, and can, directly sort out the issue.

What is your assessment about the second Modi government’s first year?
One year is too early to assess a government but I have two observations: There is too much centralisation of power, which goes against principles of federalism and decentralised administration. Secondly, the government should have accepted the mandate as a responsibility to reach out to cross-sections of society than creating social and economic tensions.

What is the state of the national opposition?
Twenty-two Opposition parties just met to discuss issues. There is a growing desire, resolve to work in closer coordination.