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Crisis deepens in SP, Nitish sticks to his decision
New Delhi, July 15: Crisis in Samata Party deepened today with an angry Nitish Kumar refusing to withdraw his resignation from the government even as his party president George Fernandes said he `desired and hoped` that the Railway Minister would take it back.
New Delhi, July 15: Crisis in Samata Party deepened today with an angry Nitish Kumar refusing to withdraw his resignation from the government even as his party president George Fernandes said he "desired and hoped" that the Railway Minister would take it back.
"I desire and hope Nitish Kumar will reconsider his decision and take back his resignation," a visibly anguished Fernandes told reporters here.
The Defence Minister said he had a 45-minute talk with Kumar last night and tried to persuade him to withdraw his resignation.
Asked to comment on charges that he was "encouraging" indiscipline in the party, Fernandes admitted that indiscipline was indeed a major problem and said he felt "helpless" as in his party "anybody can say anything and anybody can abuse anyone".
A "heart broken" Kumar on the other hand maintained that he had resigned as he was perturbed over inner party wranglings and not because of any complain against the government or policies of the NDA and refused to take back his resignation.
Fernandes said that after rejecting Kumar`s resignation at the party`s national council meeting yesterday, he thought the matter was closed. But after receiving a call from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that Kumar had tendered his resignation from the Union Cabinet, he requested Vajpayee not to accept it.
At the same time he persuaded Kumar to reconsider his decision. "Kumar has resigned earlier also. Even I have resigned once. Other ministers have also resigned. We have gone through ups and downs and kept the party alive," he said.
Asked if anyone from Samata Party will replace Kumar in the event of his sticking to the demand, Fernandes said there was none else in the party other than Kumar for the job.
Fernandes said Kumar was pained over the manner in which a section of the MPs demanded that the expulsion of the two MPs and three Bihar legislators be revoked.
One of the MPs, Brahmanand Mandal, had written letters to the Prime Minister making allegations of corruption against Kumar and had sought his removal.
"They even gave me a copy of their letter. I told them it was all rubbish and there was no truth in their charges," he said adding that they continued to indulge in the vilification campaign instead of apologising.
First these MPs were suspended from the party and then expelled, he said adding that there was no question of revoking their expulsion.
Bureau Report
The Defence Minister said he had a 45-minute talk with Kumar last night and tried to persuade him to withdraw his resignation.
Asked to comment on charges that he was "encouraging" indiscipline in the party, Fernandes admitted that indiscipline was indeed a major problem and said he felt "helpless" as in his party "anybody can say anything and anybody can abuse anyone".
A "heart broken" Kumar on the other hand maintained that he had resigned as he was perturbed over inner party wranglings and not because of any complain against the government or policies of the NDA and refused to take back his resignation.
Fernandes said that after rejecting Kumar`s resignation at the party`s national council meeting yesterday, he thought the matter was closed. But after receiving a call from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that Kumar had tendered his resignation from the Union Cabinet, he requested Vajpayee not to accept it.
At the same time he persuaded Kumar to reconsider his decision. "Kumar has resigned earlier also. Even I have resigned once. Other ministers have also resigned. We have gone through ups and downs and kept the party alive," he said.
Asked if anyone from Samata Party will replace Kumar in the event of his sticking to the demand, Fernandes said there was none else in the party other than Kumar for the job.
Fernandes said Kumar was pained over the manner in which a section of the MPs demanded that the expulsion of the two MPs and three Bihar legislators be revoked.
One of the MPs, Brahmanand Mandal, had written letters to the Prime Minister making allegations of corruption against Kumar and had sought his removal.
"They even gave me a copy of their letter. I told them it was all rubbish and there was no truth in their charges," he said adding that they continued to indulge in the vilification campaign instead of apologising.
First these MPs were suspended from the party and then expelled, he said adding that there was no question of revoking their expulsion.
Bureau Report