Hegde sets conditions for merger

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, MAY 14. The former Chief Minister and senior Janata Dal(U) leader, Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde, today termed as baseless reports made out in certain sections that he was opposed to the merger of the Janata Dal(U) with the Janata Dal(S).

He was speaking at a function to felicitate Prof. C. Narasimhappa who has been appointed the National Vice-President of the Janata Dal(U).

In a way, Prof. Narasimhappa takes the place of the late Jeevaraj Alva. It has been said that it was Mr. Hegde who was responsible for enabling Prof. Narasimhappa get the coveted post in the party.

Mr. Hegde, who was apparently perturbed by the reports on his reservation over the merger, said a united Janata Dal was a requirement in the present political scenario in the State more than at the national level as it was the only alternative to the Congress which had got to the seat of power more out of ``accident than on merit.'' But then a merger of the Janata Dal(U) and the Janata Dal(S) could not be attained without proper homework as such a merger could only prove to be a temporary arrangement. ``We should see that the Janata Dal (after the merger) does not break once again.''

He said the Janata Dal(U) could not be party to the merger of the Janata parivar unless the Janata Dal(S) pulled out of its association with the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, the CPI(M) in Kerala and the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar. ``We cannot be associated with people who have been convicted. Similarly, the Janata Dal(U) will also pull out of the National Democratic Alliance at the appropriate time. It would be improper to force another general election on the country and this was the only consideration that had prompted Mr. Sharad Yadav to continue his party's association with the NDA.''

Mr. Hegde suggested that Prof. Narasimhappa could continue the merger discussions with the Janata Dal(S). All the issues between the two parties have to be sorted out first before the merger could be formalised. A combined Janata Dal could be a big force in the coming Assembly elections, more so, since the BJP had been vanquished in the State.

The BJP, which had claimed that it was a force to reckon with in urban areas, had been pushed to the last place in the recent election to the urban local bodies. The Congress had gained the first place thanks to the money and muscle power that it had apart from the gross misuse of the official machinery, he charged.

Referring to the impact of the WTO agreement, Mr. Hegde, who had served as the Union Commerce Minister, said it was imperative for the Centre to seek a special general body meeting of the WTO to discuss the impact of the recent measures. While some countries had benefited, there were many who had suffered. It was time to take stock of the situation and ensure corrective measures.

``We should take the WTO challenge in its stride and improve on our quality, productivity etc. There were many countries with agriculture as the backbone to their economy and they had done quite well so far. We should also not lag behind.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Music varsity named after Annamacharya to come up
           at Madhapur
Next     : 'Baby-selling' orphanages warned