Rift within MVA on LAC faceoff as Congress questions Sharad Pawar's Defence Min tenure

rift within Maha Vikas Aghadi over LAC situation escalated after Congress leader and Maharashtra Energy Minister Nitin Raut slammed NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Wednesday. Responding to Pawar's charge of China capturing around 45,000 sq. km of India's land after 1962 war, Raut reminded him that former had served as Defence Minister during Congress rule. He questioned Pawar on why he had t corrected alleged "mistake" committed by Congress party.

Raut lamented that NCP supremo had commented on former Congress president Rahul Gandhi instead of his own contribution. Maharashtra Energy Minister made it clear that re was a difference of opinion between Congress and Pawar on this issue. A day earlier, Raut had claimed that Sharad Pawar still had affection for party due to his Congress roots and contended that his statement was a "slip of tongue".

Read: Congress Says 'unclear What Sharad Pawar Said' After NCP Supremo Reminds It Of 1962 War

Sharad Pawar backs Centre on LAC faceoff

During an interview on June 27, Sharad Pawar backed  Centre, stressing that Chinese troops were pushed away after seeking to encroach on Indian land. According to former Defence Minister, it was wrong to blame Rajnath Singh for present crisis. Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi's claim of 'China occupying Indian territory', he recalled that China had captured around 45,000 sq. km of country's land after 1962 war. Pawar said that this land remained in China's possession even when Congress was in power. 

Sharad Pawar opined, "What happened was y ( Chinese troops) tried to encroach on our road and were pushed physically. It was t somebody's failure. If somebody comes (within your territory) while you are patrolling, y may come at any time. We cant say it is failure of Defence Minister sitting in Delhi."

He added, "That land is still with China. I don't kw if y (China) have encroached on some area w again. But when one makes an allegation, one should also see what had happened when one was re (in power). If such big land was encroached upon n, it cant be igred. It is a matter of national security and it should t be politicised is what I feel."

Read: Mayawati Shames Congress And Backs Centre Over India-China Stand; Follows Sharad Pawar