The Hindu : PM skips parliamentary party meet

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2002

Front Page

Front Page

PM skips parliamentary party meet

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI JULY 23. Today was one of those rare days when the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, skipped the parliamentary wing meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Last week he attended it, but gave the floor to the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, and today he was absent, and thus again the meeting was addressed by Mr Advani.

This once again gave rise to speculation that there was a plan in this, that Mr. Vajpayee was "handing over'' the task of addressing the weekly meeting with MPs to his deputy.

However, there were some who simply dismissed Mr. Vajpayee's absence today with the explanation: "he must have been tired.''

Mr. Advani focussed his address on the problems faced by the north-east and the legitimate grievance that development had slowed in that region, the party spokesperson, Sunil Shastri, told reporters later.

Mr. Advani pointed out that MPs who have any suggestions to make or any problems to resolve concerning the area should talk to Arun Shourie, who was Minister in charge of this region. The meeting lasted barely 20 minutes.

Mr. Shastri strongly defended the Modi Government's decision to dissolve the Gujarat Assembly and said that it would have been better for political parties to wait and see what the Election Commission had to say about the timing of the elections.

At the same time, after a Congress delegation met the Election Commission on Monday to put its view before the Commission, it is learnt that a BJP delegation led by party president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, will be meeting the Commission tomorrow to insist that the polls be held in time to allow the new Assembly to meet before October 10 (to ensure that the gap between the last Assembly session in April and the next one is not more than six months).

Mr. Shastri said that while the Congress was making much of its new State unit president, Shankarsinh Waghela, the fact was that when it pulled back support to Mr. Waghela in 1997 it had charged him with corruption and his Government with maladministration in a letter to the Governor.

It had made serious allegations not only about losses incurred by the public exchequer under the Government led by Mr. Waghela but had also charged that he continued to be proud of his RSS connection. Under the circumstances, the Congress said it had lost faith in him and was withdrawing its support.

With what face can the Congress now promise good governance under Mr. Waghela, Mr. Shastri asked.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

Advani rejects demand for President's rule in Gujarat

Kapil is `Cricketer of the Century'

Drought-hit States seek more relief

BJP allies strike a different note

Pak. not to open its airspace in the `near future'

PM skips parliamentary party meet

Privatise UTI in one year: JPC

Grenade blast in Rajouri

JD (U) splits

Hamas leader killed

Maruti cuts prices