The Hindu : Quit NDA, BJP allies told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 16, 2002

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Quit NDA, BJP allies told
By Malabika Bhattacharya

KOLKATA, MARCH 15. The West Bengal Communist Party of India (Marxist) has said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners at the Centre should not stop at pressuring the Bharatiya Janata Party to disassociate itself from the controversial Ayodhya issue but also quit the alliance.

The party secretary, Anil Biswas, also a politburo member, today said the NDA constituents appeared to have played a role in forcing the BJP to dissuade the Vishwa Hindu Parishad from performing the ``shila puja'' today ``but they should not stop at creating pressure. They should sever their links with the alliance.''

Though the Trinamool Congress, like many others in the NDA, recorded its protest against the BJP's role in the Supreme Court on the ``puja'' issue, it resisted the move of the Congress and the Left to discuss the Ayodhya issue in the Assembly today, saying it would only ``aggravate the situation.'' The Speaker, Hashim Abdul Halim, disallowed the move and proceeded with the question hour.

The situation in Kolkata and elsewhere in the State remained peaceful. Twentynine VHP supporters were arrested at Haldibari in district Coochbehar for taking out a ``kirtan'' defying police ban.

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