The Hindu : National : No withdrawal of support to Patnaik Government: Rajnath

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Sunday, Jan 08, 2006

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No withdrawal of support to Patnaik Government: Rajnath

Special Correspondent

Orissa BJP delegation meets BJP president

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh on Saturday told a delegation from Orissa that there was no question of withdrawing support to the Naveen Patnaik Government, but matters that have soured the relationship between the Biju Janata Dal and the BJP's State unit would be sorted out.

Mr. Singh apparently spoke to Mr. Patnaik, who has reportedly agreed to improve the relief and rehabilitation package being offered to relatives of those killed in the police firing at Kalinga Nagar recently.

Mr. Singh met the party's State unit president Jual Oram, MPs and other leaders from Orissa. Several of them had on Friday demanded that the BJP withdraw support to the BJD Government and join the protest against the police firing on tribals called by Opposition parties in the State.

However, after Mr. Singh spoke to the Chief Minister and it was agreed that a better relief package would be offered to families of victims and "administrative action" would be taken against guilty police and district officials, the BJP has tried to downplay the demand for withdrawal of support.

Mr. Oram briefed Mr. Singh on the incident and discussed steps to be taken to ensure that this was not repeated. The BJP fears that it would lose the support it had among tribals — Mr. Oram himself is a tribal — thus forcing the State unit to speak out against a long-time alliance partner.

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