Pawar hits out at AAP, calls them 'pseudo activists'

Congress ally NCP chief Sharad Pawar said weak leadership on part of the ruling party had given rise to "pseudo activists" who are not connected with the ground reality, in an apparent dig at emergence of political greenhorn Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi Assembly polls.

"We also need to think about the class of people trying to influence and change public opinion through their impractical ideas. The youth has clearly shown its anger in these elections and we need to find why they are angry," he said adding that people want "result-oriented leaders".

The Union Minister for Agriculture said that AAP had garnered votes by promising to bring down prices of onions, vegetables and electricity rates, but this was not in the hands of the state governments.

"This is easier said than done. States cannot control these prices as they depend on demand and supply which largely depends on situations such as drought, availability of water," Pawar said.

The minister claimed that re-election in Delhi is imminent as BJP has decided to stay away from power and he wanted to see what AAP would do if it takes lead.

"He (Kejriwal) promised that he would bring onion prices to half if voted to power. With the BJP's decision of staying away from power, the next 4-5 months will have the Governor's rule in Delhi.

"AAP should have got another 5-6 seats and come into power. They probably will, when elections are held again after 4-5 months," Pawar said.

He challenged Arvind Kejriwal led AAP to bring down prices of onions, vegetables and electricity, once it comes to power "so that the public knows the truth about their campaign as the states really have no control over these prices."

The 73-year-old NCP leader said AAP's campaigns promised a corruption-free Delhi, but the same set of people wanted illegal colonies to be regularised.

"The same class of people who built the illegal colonies wants them to be legalised. On one hand, the same class of people are responding and voting for AAP's call for a corruption-free Delhi and on the other hand, they are demanding that their illegal colonies be legalised. You will find such contradictions in Delhi," he said.

The Maratha strongman claimed the December 16 gang rape case last year "made youth restless and thus most of them joined AAP" and "the poor and lower class proved to be a bigger vote bank for AAP".