PM's resignation unacceptable, says Farooq

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 31. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, today described as ``totally unacceptable'' the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee's offer to resign, saying Mr. Vajpayee was the ``guiding force'' at a time when the country was passing through a difficult phase.

``We need him and I think he will have to carry on with the burden of India at this stage,'' he said in his reaction to Mr. Vajpayee's resignation offer earlier in the day. He was speaking to presspersons after meeting the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, in the North Block.

Dr. Abdullah, whose National Conference is a partner in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), felt that persons in high offices were all the time working under pressure. ``Mr. Vajpayee's pressures are greater than mine but that does not mean that he can quit and go. We will have to fight it out,'' he said.

The State Governor, Mr. G.C. Saxena, and Dr. Abdullah, during their meeting with Mr. Advani, discussed the post-Agra summit scenario in the State, particularly the recent escalation of militancy.

After nearly an hour-long meeting, Dr. Abdullah said the security situation was reviewed in a comprehensive way with the Home Minister giving the Centre's assessment of the situation.

To a query, he said there were enough security personnel in the State and only their proper utilisation was needed to ``fight criminals from Pakistan.'' He feared further escalation in terrorist activity in the State, particularly in the post-Agra summit situation.

On the issue of greater autonomy to the State, he said he was ready for discussions with the Centre on the issue. ``We will debate and see where our differences are. We are not demanding anything outside India and the Constitution. We are a part of India and we are not saying like the Hurriyat Conference that we are part of Pakistan.''

The State Assembly's resolutions on greater autonomy had already been rejected by the Centre. However, Dr. Abdullah said: ``You discuss with us, try and convince us that whatever we are demanding is detrimental to the interest of India. We will not press for it.''

`Diversionary tactic'

UNI reports from Ranchi:

The CPI(M) Politburo member, Mr. Sitaram Yechuri, today charged Mr. Vajpayee with ``conspiring'' to divert the country's attention from the UTI scam and other ``misdeeds'' of his Government by offering to resign.

He said Mr. Vajpayee should instead dismiss the Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, and take legal action against him. By offering to quit, he was trying to protect all those who were actually behind the scam and other financial irregularities and had close links with the Prime Minister's Office, Mr. Yechuri added.

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