Khurana warns on CNG issue

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 16.

The former Delhi Chief Minister, Mr. Madan Lal Khurana, today warned the party leadership that if remedial measures are not taken to sort out the CNG mess, the party would face a rout in any future electoral battle as the situation was almost similar to what had happened during the onion crisis in the Capital when the BJP was thrown out of power.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Khurana said no further time should be lost, otherwise the party would have to pay a heavy price for creating such a situation. Acknowledging that the Centre had been lax and there had been a lack of consistency on the CNG issue, Mr. Khurana said he had sounded the Union Petroleum Minister, Mr. Ram Naik, about the implications of any further fault on this front.

Sounding disillusioned with the way the present mess has been created, Mr. Khurana said like the onion crisis proved to be BJP's Waterloo, the CNG issue, if not tackled on a war footing, could well sink the BJP in any future election. ``I have already conveyed my views to the party leadership including the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee. I will continue my struggle with these affected people and can go to any extreme is injustice is done to them,'' he stated.

Looking annoyed at the handling of the CNG situation by the Centre, Mr. Khurana, however, refused to elaborate on what extreme step he would take. If the situation does not ease by the end of September, things will take a turn for the worse. The court should consider the entire issue sympathetically and give relief as it was being prayed by the Centre. However, if this does not come, then the government could also consider the option of issuing an ordinance. ``Parliament is supreme. Both Houses have expressed their views on the issue and are of the opinion that CNG could be the single fuel and some other alternate had to be explored. If this plea is turned down, then the government could consider other options.''

He said hundreds of representatives of different auto-rickshaw, taxi and bus operators associations would hold a dharna tomorrow in front of the Supreme Court to convey the sentiments of the common man. He said hundreds of schools children along with the parents, who are facing a tough time, would also be taking part in the dharna. ``I have decided to take up the fight of these affected people and would only rest till the matter is taken to its logical conclusion,'' he announced.

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