Bharat Jodo Yatra's usefulness for Congress and Rahul Gandhi cannot be denied: Sharad Pawar
The HinduNationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on September 19 acknowledged the "usefulness" of the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi for the Congress leader and his party. Speaking to reporters in Solapur district of Maharashtra, Mr. Pawar said big padyatras or foot marches such as 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' have a political impact and people welcome such programmes with sincere intent. Queried about the allegations by Bharatiya Janata Party that he and Uddhav Thackeray have "neglected" Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, currently in jail in a money-laundering case, Mr. Pawar said Mr. Raut's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate shows the "misuse of power". Asked about the Thackeray faction still awaiting permission to hold the rally, Mr. Pawar said he has been seeing for the last 30-40 years that Shiv Sena, earlier led by Bal Thackeray, has been holding the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park, which is like a tradition.