India, Jan. 30 -- In a party meeting held on Tuesday evening at his official residence Devgiri, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar directed leaders and MLAs to steer clear of any issue that may become contentious for the party. While Pawar's directives came in the backdrop of controversy stirred up over civil supplies, food and consumer affairs minister Dhananjay Munde's link with Walmik Karad, the alleged mastermind in the gruesome murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, on Wednesday Munde, who is on a two-day visit to Delhi, stated he would not resign (despite the pressure being built on the party from the Opposition and the BJP) as he was "not morally guilty".

A senior leader who attended Tuesday's meeting said, "...