Pawar was talking to The Financial Express after addressing a mammoth rally organised on the occasion of 75th birthday of co-operative baron Bhausaheb Thorat. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh was the chief guest on the occasion.

Pawar strongly criticised the BJP government for allowing sugar import despite over-production this year. Stating that nearly 10 lakh tonnes had already landed from Pakistan, Brazil and Mexico, he said.

"It is ironical that the country will have a sugar production of more than 150 lakh tonnes and there will be a carry-forward stock of 90 lakh tonnes. In spite of this, the government is reluctant to ban sugar imports." Pawar said that the Pakistan sugar was available atRs 12 per kg here. The Pakistan government has providing a subsidy of Rs 6 per kg and additional Rs 2 has been given as transport subsidy.

Pawar came down heavily on the BJP-led government for not allowing exports of onion especially when there was bumper crop and there were no takers for it here. While he supported the ban when production had dropped, he felt that the government should reconsider its decision and allow exports in the larger interests of the farmers.

Pawar criticised the ruling saffron alliance for its decision to hike power tariff and its failure to provide uninterrupted power supply to farmers. He has predicted a tariff hike of at least Rs 1.50 in the near future.Pawar has held the Vajpayee government responsible for the recent state of affairs of the Indian economy.

Pawar turned down Prime Minister AB Vajpayee's suggestion for debate on the contentious issue of conversion. "There are no cases of forced conversion and thus Vajpayee's suggestion is unacceptable as it may lead tofurthertension."

Pawar said that the recent cases of attacks on Christian missionaries and churches in Gujarat sponsored by the Sangh Parivar were with a sole objective of spreading rabid Hinduism.

He added that Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's justification of damaging of Firozshah Kotla stadium at Delhi was also with an aim of arousing Hindu feelings.