HVK Archives: PM is scared to ask Laloo to quit, concludes BJP
PM is scared to ask Laloo to quit, concludes BJP - The Observer
Observer Political Bureau
()
11 July 1997
Title: PM is scared to ask Laloo to quit, concludes BJP
Author: Observer Political Bureau
Publication: The Observer
Date: July 11, 1997
Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral is willing to strike but is scared to
hurt Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav. This is what the BJP makes
out of Gujral's comments on the corruption issue that he made in a public
speech at Badaun. Here too, when the Prime Minister exhorted the corrupt
politicians and bureaucrats to quit, he did not have the courage to name
Laloo Prasad Yadav.
"And even for making these kind of statements, the Prime Minister needed in
addition to SPG protection, the physical presence of Defence Minister
Mulayam Singh Yadav, Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and the
newly-elected President of Janata Dal Sharad Yadav," said BJP Spokesperson
Yashwant Sinha on Thursday, while commenting on the Prime Minister's
statement on corruption.
Yashwant Sinha also charged the Prime Minister with failing to 'deal
firmly' with the Bihar Chief Minister, either as a leader of the Janata Dal
or as the Prime Minister.
"Gujral is dilly-dallying on the most important issue of corruption
occupying centrestage today, namely, the Bihar fodder scam, which has
already become one of the worst chapters of our history," the BJP
Spokesperson alleged while addressing the party's daily press briefing.
Referring to Gujral's stern warning against corrupt politicians and
bureaucrats at public meetings in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, the Spokesman
said "even then he (Gujral) could not summon enough courage to name Laloo
Prasad Yadav. In fact, he (Gujral) was quick to add that he was not
referring to any individual in particular."
The BJP leader said if Gujral intended that Chandradeo Prasad Verma's
resignation from the Union Council of Ministers following the CBI
chargesheet in the fodder seam would be a message to Laloo Prasad Yadav,
then it has been ignored with disdain.
On the split in the Janata Dal, the spokesman said "the Prime Minister does
not even have the courage to sack the Ministers of his Government who have
openly sided with the new party floated by the Bihar Chief Minister."
The BJP, Yashwant Sinha said, would like to remind the Prime Minister that
brave words were not enough unless they were followed up by brave deeds.
"It is here that Gujral has been found completely wanting. By making
statements, like he did on Wednesday, Gujral is only exposing himself to
further ridicule in the eyes of the people. If he cannot act, let him at
least refrain from making misleading statements," Yashwant Sinha said.
Meanwhile, the BJP challenged Congress President Sitaram Kesri, to ask the
Bihar unit of the party to move a no-confidence motion against the Bihar
Chief Minister.
He alleged that there was 'some understanding' between Kesri and Laloo
Prasad Yadav, and therefore, the Congress President 'is finding excuses.'
He said the BJP Bihar legislators would take a decision on whether or not
to move a no-confidence motion against Laloo Prasad Yadav.
The BJP Spokesperson urged Bihar Governor to direct the Chief Minister not
to take any policy decision as he was heading a minority Government.
This should continue till Laloo Prasad Yadav is able to prove his majority
on the floor of the house, he said.
Yashwant Sinha also charged the presiding officers of the two houses in
Bihar with according recognition to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in a
hurry without verifying the signatures of those who were supporting the
Chief Minister. He alleged Laloo Prasad Yadav was indulging in
'horse-trading' and 'misuing' funds available with the State Government for
buying support for himself.
"The new nexus of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and RJD is meant to dupe the
people..... by supporting the RJD Government, JMM MLAs will bail out the
corrupt and criminal regime of Laloo Prasad Yadav," Yashwant Sinha said.
The deal proved that JMM leaders were not in a position to fight for the
creation of a separate state, the BJP Spokesperson added.
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