Against the backdrop of Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's attacks on the United Progressive Alliance and the Congress, Union minister Manish Tewari on Friday said the ruling party and the alliance know how to run a coalition.
"The UPA and Congress have always shown that they know how to run a coalition and the current UPA government will complete its full term," the Congress leader told reporters.
"The people of the country do not like instability and they treat those who create instability in a tough manner," Tewari remarked.
Yadav had earlier called the Congress Party a "cheat" and "clever".
When asked the comments, Tewari said, "We respect Yadav and other partners of the UPA a lot. He is a senior leader and everyone should follow basic courtesies while indulging in political dialogue. We always try to sort out differences with our allies in a creative manner."
Tewari added, "As the general elections are about a year ahead, the government has focused on strengthening the economy and putting back economic reforms on track. We also want to pass the Food Security Bill and other important legislations as soon as possible".
Terming the Third Front as "the most enduring mirage of Indian politics", he said, "If we look back on the 20-year history of Indian politics, then we will find that it was an era of coalition governments."
On the issue of actor Sanjay Dutt's sentence in 1993 Mumbai blasts case and demand from some quarters that he should be pardoned, Tewari said the Supreme Court had arrived at the decision after following the due legal course.
"The President and governors have some constitutional rights but it is a matter between the concerned person and them," he said.
On efforts to promote Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate for the prime minister's post, Tewari said, "The BJP should answer this question -- whether it has projected Modi as the prime ministerial candidate or not.
"Speculation is there but then suddenly Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) tweets on the issue, so BJP should first sort out opposition from within," he said.
The Congress contests elections on the basis of its policies and the party never worries about who the opposition's candidate is, he said.
On the possibility of Rahul Gandhi being projected as the prime ministerial candidate, Tewari said, "He has already clarified his position, but it is a fact that it is indeed the wish of millions of Congressmen that he should play a more diversified role."
