M A I N   N E W S

Dhumal weans away rebel MLA
Bid to woo minister fails
From S.P. Sharma and Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 27 — Even though the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, was able to wean away dissident MLA, Des Raj, the threat to his government remained as another minister, Mr Ram Lal Markandey, today extended support to the rebels, demanding that the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, be removed from the Cabinet.

Mr Markandey belongs to the HVC of Mr Sukh Ram.

Mr Des Raj, who arrived here along with the Chief Minister and Dr Rajan Sushant, Revenue Minister, this afternoon told waiting mediapersons that he had full faith in the leadership of Mr Dhumal and he had sorted out his differences with him. His main grievance had been settled following an assurance by Mr Dhumal that Mr Kirpal Parmar, a Rajya Sabha member, would not interfere in the affairs of his constituency.

Mr Dhumal said there was no threat to his government. He said some “opportunistic forces were out to undermine the electoral prospects of the party in the ensuing panchayat poll”. He said he would resign if the party high command or the legislative party so desired.

Mr Dulo Ram, who has been spearheading the dissident campaign, demanded an inquiry to determine who had leaked the dissidents letter to the press 17 days after it was written.

He said the matter could be resolved if the high command deputed any leader, except Mr Narinder Modi, who did not enjoy the confidence of dissidents, to settle their grievances. The dissidents, he said, had no intention to destabilise the government. They would abide by the wishes of the high command but wanted the issues raised by them addressed in right earnest.

Efforts are on at the highest level to defuse the crisis. Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee is learnt to have spoken to Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution.

The Minister of State for Town and Country Planning, Mr Hari Narain Singh, told TNS that all other five rebels, including Transport Minister K.K. Kapoor, Irrigation Minister Ramesh Chand, Mrs Nirmala Devi and Mr Dulo Ram were firm on their demands which they had listed in the “no-confidence” letter against Mr Dhumal.

Mr Hari Narain Singh and Mr Dulo Ram held a meeting in Solan this morning, Mr Dulo Ram said he was not invited to a meeting of legislators and BJP office-bearers which was held at the official residence of the Chief Minister.

The two other ministers, Mr Kapoor and Mr Ramesh Chand, were expected to reach here late in the night.

The rebels are likely to chalk out their further strategy tomorrow.

Mr Hari Narain Singh alleged he was asked by a Cabinet Minister to accompany him to Parwanoo from Nalagrh this morning and was taken to the Chief Minister. He claimed he was promised elevation to the Cabinet rank in case he parted ways with the dissidents and supported Mr Dhumal.

He said he had told to the Chief Minister that the crisis was his own doing as he had failed to take action against the PWD Minister who had made “unfounded allegations” against him and was trying to “humiliate” him in his own constituency.

Mr Hari Narain Singh said he had asked the Chief Minister to order an inquiry by a sitting judge of the High Court into the assets and property acquired by Mr Mohinder Singh and “my ever since we became ministers.”