NCP justifies Pawar's meeting with Bal Thackeray

New Delhi: Despite the meeting sparking a controversy, the NCP on Monday justified party chief, Mr Sharad Pawar's discussion with the Shiv Sena chief, Mr Bal Thackeray, on the IPL tournament contending that in a democracy dialogue and discussion are important.

The NCP spokesman, Mr D.P. Tripathi, said Mr Pawar had met Thackeray along with the BCCI chief, Mr Shashank Manohar, to convince the Sena supremo about holding of the IPL matches in Mumbai and there was no political import to the meeting.

"In democracy we persuade people through discussion and dialogue," Mr Tripathi said.

At the same time he agreed with the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr Ashok Chavan, that there was no extra-constitutional authority.

Mr Tripathi also insisted that persuasion is far more important than coercion in a democratic state.