Congress can't take full credit for welfare programmes: NCP

Taking a dig at the Congress, ally NCP today said its largest coalition partner cannot alone claim credit for welfare policies and programmes launched in Maharashtra and at the Centre.

"Whatever decisions like transfer of Indu mill land for Ambedkar memorial and those related to welfare of farmers and common man have been taken, it is due to the initiative from both parties," Maharashtra unit NCP President Madhukar Pichad told reporters at the newly renovated state-of-the-art NCP state headquarters in South Mumbai.

Congress and NCP have had joint manifestos since 2004 assembly elections in the state. He said his Congress counterpart Manikrao Thakre should have referred to the manifesto as Congress-NCP joint manifesto and not just that of the congress.

Congress has organised a "vachan purti melava" tomorrow to highlight the fulfilment of promises made in the party manifesto tomorrow to mark the 127 th Foundation Day of the party.

Pichad said he did not want to be critical of the Congress since both parties had worked hard towards achieving the goal of welfare of the common man.

To a question on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's photo frame in the party office, Pichad said he was a tall leader who sacrificed his life for the country.

When asked why Indira Gandhi's picture was not put up, he said Congress and NCP had similar ideology. "No other national leader can be compared to the stature of Rajiv," he said.

Pichad said the Congress-NCP coordination committee will be held soon. "The issue of implementation of FDI in retail and direct cash transfer will be discussed,"he said.

The sprawling new office spread over 800-1000 sq ft will be inaugurated by Union Agriculture Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar tomorrow.

"The facilities provided in the office will help party workers to strengthen the organisation and ensure common man's problems are resolved," he said adding the expenditure incurred on the renovation project will be made public soon.

ALSO READ

Sikhs protest near Parliament House against acquittal of Sajjan Kumar in riots case

A K Antony to commission MiG-29 K fighter planes into Navy

Parliament adjourned till noon amid uproar

Strike disrupts normal life in Kashmir Valley