Jagmohan's stand has State BJP in fix

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, NOV. 26.

The ``uncompromising stand'' of the Union Urban Development Minister, Mr. Jagmohan, has put the Delhi BJP, its senior leaders and MPs in a fix. The stand-off between Mr. Jagmohan and the Delhi BJP leaders is likely to reach a flashpoint in the coming days.

On the other hand, the Congress(I) is waging a battle for the ``cause'' of lakhs of workers likely to be affected by the closure of industries. But here too, the Congress(I) has been unable to put up a united front. In fact, the dissidents are toeing a totally different line, sending wrong signals.

The recent agitation by workers and factor owners has provided an opportunity to the former Chief Minister, Mr. Madan Lal Khurana, to flex his muscles and get back at his arch rival, Mr. Jagmohan. Mr. Khurana has been quick to grab the initiative and form a ``Laghu Udyog Bachao Samiti'' to save the industries. He had floated the ``Delhi Vikas Mahasangh'' when the issue of unauthorised colonies was at its peak in July this year. It is, of course, another matter that Mr. Khurana has forgotten that he had opposed changes in the Master Plan of Delhi 2001 when he was Chief Minister in 1995.

What seems to have dented the credibility of BJP leaders, particularly Mr. Khurana, is their claim time and again of meeting the Prime Minister and claiming that they have been assured of necessary changes in the Master Plan. Mr. Khurana's tall claim came to nought when Mr. Jagmohan announced that he was ready to consider minor changes to the Master Plan in accordance with the Sagar Committee findings. Officials, however, feel that in the present circumstances, these recommendations do not hold much water.

The erosion in the public support for the BJP could be gauged from the low turnout for the protest planned under the leadership of the city president, Mr. Mange Ram Garg, at Old Secretariat on November 21. So poor was the show that even party leaders preferred to stay away. Many senior leaders in private, blamed the BJP-dominated MCD for the violence in Delhi. ``What was the need to cancel 68,000 ad hoc licenses in one day and sending MCD parties to seal units in residential areas. This should have been done after consultations. The party's credibility has been eroded,'' said a senior leader.

As for the Congress, it has been able to put up a united show inside the Delhi Assembly, but the conduct of many of its MLAs outside, left much to be desired.

What has hurt the party's image most is the way it approached the Prime Minister on the important issue. The dissidents preferred to meet Mr. Vajpayee separately. It is another fact that the Prime Minister preferred to meet the delegation led by the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dixit.

For her part, Ms. Sheila Dixit has warned Mr. Jagmohan that the elected Government would hit the streets if the interests of people were not protected. This clearly indicates that the Congress Government was ready to take the Union Minister head on. It has sent the signal that the fault lies with the BJP and not the Congress. In fact, so defensive has been the BJP on the issue that its MLAs, including the Leader of the Opposition, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, after the announcement by Mr. Jagmohan ruling out amendments to the Master Plan tried to divert attention by raising corruption charges against the Chief Minister.

The BJP members feeling embarrassed by Mr. Jagmohan's stand, stayed away from the discussion on the issue in the Assembly.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : Delhi Police to deal firmly with protestors
Next     : Master Plan flouted to begin with