Sharad Pawar hits out at Narendra Modi, but calls him good friend

New Delhi: A Chief Minister has to take responsibility if riots take place in a state under his watch, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Monday against the backdrop of the 2002 Gujarat communal violence.

“I am a Chief Minister and something happens in my state, I have to take the responsibility. I cannot say no. I may not be directly involved, but as a CM, as a home minister, as an administrator, I think it is my responsibility to protect the interest of the citizens,” he told in a television interview.

He was asked about his stand on whether Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was responsible or not for the 2002 riots.

On his earlier statement that Mr Modi should no longer be held responsible for the communal violence as a court has exonerated the Gujarat CM, Mr Pawar said that the decision of the court should be accepted.

"When judiciary has said something one has to accept,” he said, adding that he goes according to the decision of the court.

The Union minister also said the development in Gujarat is not the contribution of one CM alone. “Gujarat or Maharashtra, they are developed states and it is not the contribution of one CM. Many CMs, right from Chimanbhai Patel and others, they have done a good job,” he said.

Asked about his equation with Mr Modi, the NCP leader said that his equation with most leaders was good. “My personal equation with most of the leaders, irrespective of parties, including Mr Modi, is good,” Mr Pawar said.