Devil's Advocate: Team India not racist, says Pawar

PAWAR PLAY: Sharad Pawar says development of country is important but not at the cost of stability.

        

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Keywords: Sharad Pawar, Devils Advocate

Yes, there was some gaali - galauch (swearing), some heated discussion, which was not proper and which we don't like. We communicated to players that enough is enough and we should not get these types of complaints. But the word, which comes under the definition of racism, was not uttered, that was the information given to us.

Karan Thapar: A third area of criticism was your comment made on the evening of Monday, January 28, to the press when you said an Indian cannot be racist. Now you know Indians can be racist. Why did you say that?

Sharad Pawar: Because it is very difficult for me to accept what you say - that Indians are racist. No!

Karan Thapar: Mr Pawar, not only Indians are capable of being racist but Africans often say that Indians are among the most racist people in the world.

Sharad Pawar: I don't know. I don't treat my own people like this and I am not ready to accept that charge against the people of this country.

Karan Thapar: You don't believe that Indians are ever racist?

Sharad Pawar: I don't think that Indians are born, brought up with that type of thinking and that type of liking. No.

Karan Thapar: Harbhajan Singh has accepted that he used an unacceptable Punjabi swearword. Why didn't he admit to this in the beginning and not let the situation build up?

Sharad Pawar: No, no. He admitted in the beginning. 'Yes I have said this, this, this'. He said that, he admitted to that. And that was part of the evidence.

Karan Thapar: Then why didn't the BCCI at the very outset, four weeks ago, say look, you misunderstood. He never said monkey, he used a Punjabi phrase maa ki. They sound the same but in fact they are not. If that had been clarified the problem wouldn't have built up.

Sharad Pawar: You see when the matter is sub judice, why make public statements?

Karan Thapar: But you could have nipped the problem in the bud, instead it became a huge controversy.

Sharad Pawar: The controversy is not from our side; controversy has been started from the other side. The (Australian) players come together and make allegation that such a thing has happened. Not a single umpire has heard; there were three people on the ground (but) nobody has heard - other side not a single player has heard. There were 24 TV cameras (and) not a single camera is saying that this type of word has been used.

Karan Thapar: So was there then an attempt by the Australians to trap Harbhajan Singh and deliberately misinterpret it?

Sharad Pawar: I don't know. I don't want to challenge anybody's motive. Now the issue is closed. Our equation with the Australian board is extremely good and I don't want to continue that controversy again.