The Hindu : Samata MPs object to reshuffle

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 03, 2002

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National

Samata MPs object to reshuffle

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 2. The latest Cabinet reshuffle has triggered a controversy with four Samata Party MPs alleging that the exercise has `upset the balance (caste representation)' especially in Bihar.

The four MPs — Arun Kumar, Manjay Lal, Prabhunath Singh and Rajiv Ranjan (Lallan) — announced they would take the issue to the masses with a series of meetings in the State between July 13 and 28.

"We can go to any extent,'' they said without elaborating.

Addressing a press conference here this evening, they said the BJP was effecting changes to "trample'' people's representatives who had taken on Laloo Prasad Yadav.

"The BJP can do this at its own peril; We will take it down with us," the MPs said.They charged that in the name of carrying out a reshuffle, the BJP had changed the ``caste'' representation.

"The BJP has inducted all Kayasthas it had into the Union Council of Ministers and treated C.P. Thakur in a shabby manner," they said.

The MPs also said the BJP was interested only in promoting those with an urban bent of mind at the expense of those who speak for the rural poor.

"The BJP only seeks replacements.

``They brought in one (Sanjay) Paswan for another (Ram Vilas) Paswan, and shunted out Muni Lal after tying up with Mayawati.

``We too will search for an alternative (other than BJP) in Bihar,'' they said.

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