"There was no need to arrest Hazare and prevent him from going ahead with the fast... Errors would not have been committed, if allies had been consulted," party general secretary D P Tripathi said.
In an obvious criticism of the Congress, he noted that "single party handling of the situation is not good. The UPA should function as UPA, especially in times of crisis. All constituents must sit together and sort these things out."
At the same time, Tripathi faulted Hazare for his "wrong" method.
"The issue is good but the method is wrong. Anna should not leave anna (food). ....His statement that he would continue with the fast till his bill is passed is non-Gandhian...undemocratic", he said, that adding "when the bill is in the House, no citizen has right to disrupt the process".
The Sharad Pawar-led party is the fourth largest constituent in the UPA. It has two Cabinet ministers and a Minister of state at the Centre.
The NCP also shares power in the Congress-led coalition in Maharashtra.
Published 20 August 2011, 12:24 IST