MUMBAI, July 1: What did Chief Minister Manohar Joshi discuss with his predecessor Sharad Pawar during their marathon meeting at the former's official residence Varsha on Friday last?``It was not a secret meeting.

Pawar had expressed the desire to meet me in connection with the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute, development of a mega city near Pune, lathicharge on youth Congress workers at Nagpur and assault on Congress legislator Ashok Mohol at Pune,'' Joshi told mediapersons.Referring to the police lathi-charge on Youth Congress activists at Nagpur on June 20, Joshi justified the police action, saying there was no alternative.

``In fact I had given appointment to the delegation of the Youth Congress. I was keen to hear their grievances. But it appears that they were determined to create a law and order problem. Under such circumstances, police cannot be mere spectators,'' Joshi said.The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister I K Gujral would be consulted in the border dipute issue. ``Sharad Pawar, Janata Dal leader Madhu Dandavate and I will meet Gujral,'' he said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.