Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Friday quashed any talks of him taking over as United Progressive Alliance chairman from Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The veteran politician said the news of him leading the UPA is not true. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The speculation intensified when NCP\u2019s Chief Maharashtra ally Shiv Sena backed him for the role. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut had said that if the veteran politician becomes UPA chairman, the party will support him. The Congress has weakened now, hence the opposition needs to come together and strengthen the UPA, said Raut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even before Pawar\u2019s refusal today, NCP on Thursday termed it as baseless media speculation. NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase had clarified that there is no discussion within UPA partner regarding Pawar taking over as the chairperson of the UPA. The unconfirmed media reports seem to have been planted by vested interests to divert the attention from the ongoing farmer\u2019s agitation, added Tapase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the media interaction on Friday, the former Union Agriculture Minister also spoke on the ongoing farmers\u2019 protest against three agriculture laws. He said farmers are the food provider of the country, the government should not test the tolerance level of the cultivators. Despite the Opposition demand for detailed discussions on farm bills, they were passed hurriedly in the Parliament, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The veteran politician said the protest is restricted to Delhi, if no timely decision would be taken by the government, the protests may spread elsewhere.The farmers have made extreme demands of withdrawing the laws, while the Centre\u2019s position on the same does not seem to be favourable said Pawar adding that there are no signs that the deadlock will end soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n