The Hindu : Nitish attacks BJP on Gujarat killings

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 28, 2002

National

National

Nitish attacks BJP on Gujarat killings

By Our Staff Reporter

PATNA MAY 27. Upset by the BJP's refusal to spare the Rajya Sabha seat from Jharkhand, the byelection for which is due on May 30, the Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar, today for the first time lashed out at the BJP over the massacres that rocked Gujarat for well over two months taking a toll of over 800 lives.

Mr. Kumar maintained that the party was feeling uneasy over the developments there. A party workers meeting held here voiced its concern too and a two-day meeting to be held at Khagaria on May 29 is also likely to discuss the issue.

This sudden change of heart is surprising for the simple reason that the Samata was among the allies, which extended support to the BJP when other allies either walked out of the Lok Sabha or did not vote against the censure motion sponsored by the Opposition parties over the issue.

As a matter of fact, the party distanced itself from its spokesman, Shambhu Shrivastava, who resigned protesting the party's insensitivity on the issue. His resignation was turned down only the other day, coinciding the pressure tactics of the Samata in the wake of the BJP's adamant attitude on the Rajya Sabha seat.

The BJP has fielded its State unit president, Abhay Prasad, while the Samata wanted him to withdraw in favour of its own nominee Raj Kishore Mahto. Mr. Kumar maintained that the seat belonged to the Samata as the seat had fallen vacant with the demise of Dr. D.N. Sahay, who it claimed was a Samata MP. The BJP contested the claim pointing out that he had contested as an independent.

Apart from accusing the BJP of provoking his five Ministers to resign from the Babulal Marandi-led coalition Government, Mr. Kumar directly held the Central leadership responsible for precipitating the crisis.

The talks that the Defence Minister, George Fernandes held with the senior BJP leaders has failed to break the ice. Mr. Kumar has deputed a three-member team to take stock of the situation at Ranchi and maintained that the party would decide its future course on the basis of their assessment with all options being open.

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