The Hindu : Party neglecting Vaishyas, says BJP leader

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 26, 2003

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National

Party neglecting Vaishyas, says BJP leader

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR APRIL 25. The chinks in the BJP armour have started showing with the national treasurer of the party, Ramdas Agarwal, accusing the leadership of projecting persons of a particular community as prospective Chief Ministers in all the States where the prospects were good.

Mr. Agarwal today announced his resignation as president of the All-India Vaishya Mahasabha, a post he has been holding for the past six years, and the decision not to join the `parivartan yatra' the party is launching in Rajasthan the day after.

``I am bound by party discipline. When the members of my community charge me with not protecting its interests even after being a party office-bearer, I have no option,'' Mr. Agarwal said.

At the national level it is the ``neglect'' of the Vaishya community by the leadership that has made Mr. Agarwal speak out. At the State level, it was the battle that he was waging with the State unit president, Vasundhara Raje Scindia.

``The Central leadership should look into the observations made by the senior leader and MP, Raghuveer Singh Kaushal, about the selection of the office-bearers in Rajasthan. His reaction should not be taken as an act of indiscipline,'' Mr. Agarwal said.

``The Vaishya community feels that it has not been given its due,'' he said referring to the absence of representation to the community in the Union Cabinet.

At the All-India Vaishya Mahasabha Sammelan at Mathura four days ago Mr. Agarwal had announced his resignation but it was not accepted.

``Sunderlal Patwa was dropped on health reasons and Ved Prakash Goyal was removed a few months back. But no one replaced them. The Vaishya community deserves a better deal from the BJP as it had been always with the party from the time of inception,'' Mr. Agarwal said.

``They say Mr. Patwa was unwell. Then what about Murasoli Maran who has been ill for the past two years and is still a Union Minister?'' Mr. Agarwal asked.

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