BJP diverting attention as I only wrote about reforms' Says Sharad Pawar

NEW DELHI: Amid the Bharat Bandh, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Tuesday attacked the BJP for diverting the attention, and said during his tenure as the Union Cabinet Minister, he had only talked about bringing reforms in the APMC and not about the kind of new laws enacted by the Centre. Responding to the BJP allegation about his double standards on APMC, SharadPawar said, "I had only talked that APMC (Agriculture Produce marketing committee) needs reform and the APMC Act should continue but with reforms." "There is no doubt that I had written the letter, but they are just trying to divert the attention," added Pawar. The BJP has accused the UPA of double standards after citing SharadPawar's letter to the Chief Ministers during his tenure as the Union Agriculture Minister. The 2010 letter that has surfaced now shows him conversing with the then Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. The letter sought to amend the APMC Act to allow private sector participation. While flagging the letter, the BJP is saying that this step is exactly what the Modi government has taken now, which is coming under fire from Opposition leaders like the Maratha strongman. (IANS)

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