'Ghamandia' comment for I-N-D-I-A alliance smacks of BJP's arrogance: Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar. File Pic

Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Friday slammed the BJP for terming the opposition bloc I-N-D-I-A 'ghamandia' and said that the jibe smacks of the ruling party's arrogance, reported the PTI.

Addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the two-day meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I-N-D-I-A) in Mumbai, Sharad Pawar asked, Who is a 'ghamandia' those who don't even like us meeting and interacting, the news agency reported.

IN PHOTOS: Leaders of I-N-D-I-A bloc arrive at Mumbai hotel for huddle

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The former Union minister said the I-N-D-I-A alliance has offered a credible alternative to the country's people.

"We will never do anything wrong. We will try to bring those taking the wrong side on the right path. But we won't hesitate to sideline those who refuse to take the right path," Sharad Pawar said.

While working in politics, Sharad Pawar said, one needs to keep their feet firmly on the ground. But the BJP seems to have forgotten this and called us ghamandia. In a democracy, meetings and interactions over programmes and policies are necessary, he said, according to the PTI.

Earlier, calling the bloc ghamandia alliance, the BJP had said it was a selfish grouping. It alleged that leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Lalu Prasad Yadav were more likely to be driven by the future of their children in politics than the country's development.

Sharad Pawar said the alliance leaders discussed serious issues concerning the country and their future strategy.

Each state has different issues. Farmers, workers and youths also have different sets of problems. People are not happy with the BJP government, he said.

Sharad Pawar said 68 leaders from 28 political parties attended the meeting at Grand Hyatt.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said that a resolution has been passed and four main committees have been formed during the meeting of the INDIA alliance in Mumbai, ANI report stated. "We have passed some important resolutions too. INDIA Alliance Coordination Committee - a 14-member committee - has been structured," Raut said.

According to the ANI report, the 14-member Coordination Committee and Election Strategy Committee includes KC Venugopal (Congress), Sharad Pawar (Nationalist Congress Party), TR Baalu (DMK), Hemant Soren (JMM) and Sanjay Raut. The other members of this committee are Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Abhishek Banerjee (TMC), Raghav Chadha (AAP), Samajwadi Party's Javed Ali Khan, JDU's Lalan Singh, CPI's General secretary D Raja, Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah and another member from CPI (M) will soon be announced.

(with PTI and ANI inputs)