The Hindu : Mayawati rules out danger to her Govt.

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Sunday, Jun 15, 2003

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Mayawati rules out danger to her Govt.

By Our Special Correspondent

The U.P. Chief Minister, Mayawati, addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Saturday. — Photo: Subir Roy

LUCKNOW June 14. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati, today chided the Opposition for making the claim that her Government had been reduced to a minority and said that all the "drama" was only to keep the Opposition flock together.

Nearly two dozen Samajwadi Party MLAs, quite unhappy with that party's policies, were continuously in her contact and ready to support the Government when necessary. They were ready to resign from the SP and contest the next elections on the BSP ticket and were sure to win, Ms. Mayawati added.

Talking to presspersons after her return from a foreign tour, the Chief Minister said that when the coalition Government had been formed a year ago the 14 Rashtriya Lok Dal legislators were with her. Now they were with the Opposition. In the meantime, 12 more MLAs had been added to the BSP while a nominated member had also expressed a desire to support the Government. The loss suffered due to the RLD's withdrawal of support had thus been more than compensated. "Where then is the danger to my Government?"

If the Opposition was so sure of its strength in the Assembly what had prevented it from giving its list of supporters to the Governor, she asked.

Rejecting the Opposition for summoning a session of the Assembly to test her strength, Ms. Mayawati said the truth was that there was chaos among the Opposition ranks. Its MLAs were fleeing. The RLD leader, Ajit Singh, had sent his party legislators to Srinagar and then to Shimla to ensure that they would not ditch him, she claimed.

Replying to a question she said she was not interested in breaking any party. However, if some RLD MLAs formed their own group and came to support the Government, she would welcome them.

On the possibility of a Cabinet expansion following the resignation of five RLD Ministers, she said she would discuss it with the BJP legislature party leader, Lalji Tandon, whose ally the RLD had been, before taking any decision.

`CBI probe if demanded'

Turning to the Madhumita murder case, Ms. Mayawati said she would request the Centre to order a CBI inquiry if the family members of the deceased made a written demand to this effect. Earlier, following a written demand made by the poetess' relatives to the Director-General of Police last month, a CB-CID inquiry had been ordered. Two days were left for the CB-CID to submit its report, she said adding that further action would be on the basis of the report.

Asked what would be the fate of the former Minister of State, Amarmani Tripathi, dismissed for suspected involvement in the case, in case the inquiry was shifted to the CBI, Ms. Mayawati said she would not allow either Madhumita's family or Mr. Tripathi to suffer injustice.

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