M A I N   N E W S

M.L. Khurana sacked from party post

NEW DELHI, April 28 (PTI) — Senior BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana was today sacked as party Vice-President, a day after he wrote a letter to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee objecting to certain decisions of the government.

Mr Khurana has been removed from the post of Vice-President with immediate effect, BJP President Kushabhau Thakre said in an announcement.

Mr Khurana had today released a letter reportedly written by US Secretary for Commerce Susan G. Esserman on December 16 last year to the Special Secretary, (Commerce) asking India to lift the ban on quantitative restrictions (QRs) on imports of 1429 items belonging to agriculture, textiles and industrial products.

A perturbed Mr Khurana had met the Prime Minister in this connection on March 8. He later sent a letter to Mr Vajpayee again on March 10 complaining that the US Administration was interfering in India’s internal affairs.

He also pointed out at his press conference today that Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha had admitted in his Budget speech that QRs on 2,100 items were being removed.

He had also criticised the manner in which the Sankhya Vahini contract was finalised. His complaint was that the US company did not exist when the Communications Ministry signed the MoU. Mr Khurana had announced his decision to give notice for a special discussion under Rule 193 of the rules of procedure of Lok Sabha on these issues. He had obtained the signature of seven others, including four BJP MPs.

UNI: “I have been made an accused when I have done nothing wrong. I don’t know why I am being punished”, Mr Madan Lal Khurana said tonight while reacting to the decision by the BJP to remove him from the post of Vice-President of the party. Asked whether he thought the government was not functioning in national interest, he said he would open his mouth at the opportune moment. Now as an ordinary MP he would be able to express his views more openly, he added.

“Why? there is no reason to do so”, Mr Khurana angrily retorted when asked by UNI whether he was planning to leave the party.

He said between April 10 and 16 he had waited in vain for an appointment with the Prime Minister as he had some important things to discuss with him. Finally, on April 17 he was told he would get five to seven minutes with the Prime Minister but since the time was too short to discuss anything he had not had the meeting.

One killed in ammunition depot fire

BHARATPUR, April 28 (PTI) — A major fire today broke out in an Army ammunition depot here storing heavy calibre shells and other explosives killing one person and warranting evacuation of people within a 10 km radius of the town noted for its bird sanctuary.

Beer Singh, a resident of Lodawai village, died after being hit by some shrapnels .

UNI: Meanwhile a Defence Ministry spokesman in New Delhi said Defence Minister George Fernandes, who is on a visit to Srinagar is cutting short his stay to rush to Bharatpur.

The sources said 13 villages in the vicinity including Tatamada, Moondota, Malipura, Gamodi and Mandoli have been evacuated as a precautionary measures.