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Vajpayee should act as NDA PM: Naidu

By Dasu Kesava Rao

HYDERABAD April 15. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has dismissed the BJP's contention that the Gujarat events pertain to itself (the BJP) and the State and asserted that the country's prestige and pride were at stake.

"I am surprised that some people are talking about the NDA and the BJP being two different things as far as Gujarat is concerned. They can't say it is strictly their (BJP) business and others need not interfere.'' The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, might belong to the BJP, but he should act like an NDA Prime Minister, he said at a press conference on Monday.

Mr. Vajpayee had termed the Gujarat events a `national shame', the Human Rights Commission had highlighted the failure of the State administration and the miseries of the people. Several other agencies had also indicted the State administration. What could be more painful than the foreign media (The Time magazine) writing about "Bloody India", he asked.

Mr. Naidu sought to finetune the party's stand in the fast-changing political environment as he felt that it was not properly elaborated at Sunday's media briefing, adding `you (press) people laid him (the TD parliamentary party leader, K. Yerran Naidu) a trap'.

He reiterated his party's demand — change of leadership in Gujarat, give up the idea of early polls and take immediate and effective steps for the restoration of normality, rehabilitation of the riot victims and bringing the guilty to book.

The Telugu Desam had conducted itself as a mature and dignified ally of the BJP for four years without creating any problem for the Government. He condemned the reprisals in Gujarat and the proferring of Godhra as an excuse for the violence as also the Modi Government's controversial justification, saying that people at the helm should exercise restraint. He did not lose his cool when his Cabinet colleague, A. Madhava Reddy, was killed by extremists.

The Gujarat administration should have been impartial and acted tough from day one. "We in Hyderabad kept day-and-night vigil to protect lives for one week and I have asked the Police Commissioner to be impartial and tough. That was how we controlled riots and maintained communal peace all these years", he said.

The TDP called for a change of leadership in Gujarat because it badly needed a healing touch and the restoration of confidence.

With the BJP firmly rejecting his demand for the resignation of Mr. Modi, would he take the issue to its logical conclusion? "The problem with you is you want logical conclusion. We want a solution to the problem'', Mr. Naidu retorted.

Asked if he felt "isolated'' in the current developments, he joked `Why should I when the entire press is with me'. Would he be going to Gujarat? "No decision yet", he replied.

'Decision not taken'

The Telugu Desam has let it be known to the NDA Government that it has not yet taken a decision on continuing or withdrawing support to it. Mr. Naidu is understood to have conveyed this to Mr. Vajpayee, when the latter telephoned him earlier in the day. Sources said Mr. Vajpayee called up Mr. Naidu to thank him for deciding to continue the support to his Government and the latter politely put to him that the party took no decision in this regard.

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