M A I N   N E W S

PM cuts short Nagpur visit
To go ahead with US tour
Tribune News Service

NAGPUR, Aug 27— Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s sudden departure for New Delhi cancelling his participation in the ongoing meeting and a scheduled public meeting this evening caught both media persons as well as party delegates by surprise.

While the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan, said in a statement that Mr Vajpayee went back as he has been experiencing pain in both knee joints for the past few days due to exacerbation of his osteoarthritis, the sources said that there was something more than what met the eye.

The Prime Minister’s media adviser, Mr Ashok Tandon, had said few minutes before Mr Vajpayee’s departure from the venue that there was nothing wrong with his health. “You can see yourself”, Mr Tandon had quipped when asked about Mr Vajpayee’s health. The Prime Minister had himself announced during his brief speech to the National Council members that he along with the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh was leaving for New Delhi.

“He had been advised rest after the Parliament session. He, however, chose to attend the BJP’s national convention and installation of the new President Bangaru Laxman. Since last night the pain aggravated causing him severe discomfort. On his doctor’s request he has agreed to return to Delhi”, Mr Mahajan said in a written statement.

Mr Vajpayee had to address a public meeting today evening, was scheduled to deliver the concluding address to the National Council meeting.

In his brief address to the delegates after Mr Laxman’s address, Mr Vajpayee wished well and promised support and cooperation to the new president.

NEW DELHI: Mr Vajpayee said on his arrival here that he had been advised by his doctors to return following deterioration in pain in his knees. Indicating that there was no cause of concern about his health, the Prime Minister said that he would go ahead with his visit to the USA next month.

Mr Vajpayee, who has been experiencing pain in the knee joints for the past one week, addressed the national council meeting of the BJP sitting in a chair. The Prime Minister had been earlier advised by doctors to take rest but he had chosen to go to Nagpur. A BJP spokesman said here that the Prime Minister had been experiencing pain in his knee joints for the past few days due to exacerbating osteoarthritis.

The spokesman denied that the PM’s returning was anyway linked to the scathing criticism by some senior BJP leaders of the government’s handling of Kashmir situation, massacre of Amarnath pilgrims and its stand on Swadeshi.