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Dissidents seek revocation of suspended MLAs before talks
Lucknow Oct 29: Keeping up their campaign against state leadership, BJP dissident legislators today set new conditions for negotiations by demanding the withdrawal of suspension against two of their leaders, which were promptly relayed to the party high command by its pointman Rajnath Singh.
Lucknow Oct 29: Keeping up their campaign against
state leadership, BJP dissident legislators today set new
conditions for negotiations by demanding the withdrawal of
suspension against two of their leaders, which were promptly
relayed to the party high command by its pointman Rajnath
Singh.
Singh, who had a two hour meeting with the rebels here,
told reporters that he had conveyed their views and demands
to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister
L K Advani and party president M Venkaiah Naidu.
Key rebel leaders Ganga Bhakt Singh and Ramashish Rai were suspended from BJP on charges of anti-party activities.
"I have apprised the party high command of the dissidents' demand that the suspension of Singh and Rai be revoked in order to create a climate for holding negotiations," Rajnath Singh, BJP general secretary said.
The dissidents, after a meeting among themselves, said unless the state government stopped repression and withdrew "fake" cases filed against them the "right atmosphere" could not be created to start the process of dialogue. They expressed hope that Rajnath Singh would take up the matter with the party high command and help in resolving the issue.
Interestingly, the dissidents today kept silent on their earlier demand for removal of Lalji Tandon as BJP legislature party leader.
Meanwhile, Tandon told reporters here that the decision to suspend the two dissident leaders was taken jointly by the state leadership and Rajnath Singh. These leaders were suspended on certain disciplinary grounds and the revocation of the action also warranted some solid ground, he said hinting that they should at least express their repentance and request the central leadership for it.
He denied that he had obstructed the meeting of the dissidents with the Vajpayee during his visit to the state capital last week.
The doors of the high command were always open for the dissidents if they wanted to apprise it with whatever grievances they have, Tandon said. Regarding the rebels' demand for pulling out from the Mayawati government and extending it support from outside, he said "this could be considered only by the party high command as the state leadership did not have the authority to decide such issues."
He admitted party MLAs representing some regions and sections of society had been left out in the expansion of the ministry and some steps would have to be taken to accommodate them.
On the demand of the dissidents to remove him as leader of BJP legislature party, Tandon said every party legislator was free to express his views.
However, BJP state unit president Vinay Katiyar feigned ignorance about the dissidents' demand to revoke the suspension of the dissident leaders as a pre-condition to start the talks.
So far the party has not received any such proposal from any quarter, Katiyar told.
Bureau Report
Key rebel leaders Ganga Bhakt Singh and Ramashish Rai were suspended from BJP on charges of anti-party activities.
"I have apprised the party high command of the dissidents' demand that the suspension of Singh and Rai be revoked in order to create a climate for holding negotiations," Rajnath Singh, BJP general secretary said.
The dissidents, after a meeting among themselves, said unless the state government stopped repression and withdrew "fake" cases filed against them the "right atmosphere" could not be created to start the process of dialogue. They expressed hope that Rajnath Singh would take up the matter with the party high command and help in resolving the issue.
Interestingly, the dissidents today kept silent on their earlier demand for removal of Lalji Tandon as BJP legislature party leader.
Meanwhile, Tandon told reporters here that the decision to suspend the two dissident leaders was taken jointly by the state leadership and Rajnath Singh. These leaders were suspended on certain disciplinary grounds and the revocation of the action also warranted some solid ground, he said hinting that they should at least express their repentance and request the central leadership for it.
He denied that he had obstructed the meeting of the dissidents with the Vajpayee during his visit to the state capital last week.
The doors of the high command were always open for the dissidents if they wanted to apprise it with whatever grievances they have, Tandon said. Regarding the rebels' demand for pulling out from the Mayawati government and extending it support from outside, he said "this could be considered only by the party high command as the state leadership did not have the authority to decide such issues."
He admitted party MLAs representing some regions and sections of society had been left out in the expansion of the ministry and some steps would have to be taken to accommodate them.
On the demand of the dissidents to remove him as leader of BJP legislature party, Tandon said every party legislator was free to express his views.
However, BJP state unit president Vinay Katiyar feigned ignorance about the dissidents' demand to revoke the suspension of the dissident leaders as a pre-condition to start the talks.
So far the party has not received any such proposal from any quarter, Katiyar told.
Bureau Report