New Delhi, May 28: As controversy rages over the introduction of Conditional Access System (CAS), Delhi BJP president Madan Lal Khurana today claimed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had virtually assured to postpone it beyond July 14. He based his claim on his meeting with Vajpayee last week as he sought to snub Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at a press conference here over her opposition to the move in a letter to Union information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shanker Prasad.
"During my meeting with the Prime Minister, there was enough indication that CAS implementation is being postponed. The Prime Minister virtually assured to postpone it as he said it will be reviewed," Khurana said.
Demanding a relook at the decision, he said BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu too had disfavoured CAS introduction.
Stating that Dikshit had so far remained "silent" on the issue, he said the Chief Minister "jumped in to claim credit by writing to Prasad when she sensed that CAS implementation is being deferred."
Khurana also attacked Dikshit over her government's decision to issue a White Paper on slum clusters in the capital, terming it as a "political stunt".
"Why has she taken the step after being in power for four-and-a-half years? She wants to show sympathy to jhuggi dwellers because polls are to take place soon," he charged.
He also alleged that issuing of White Paper by the Congress government amounted to admission of "failure".
Bureau Report