The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, August 3, 2001,
Chandigarh, India

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Farmers’ issue: Badal meets PM
Tribune News Service

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal discusses farmers’ issues with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at a meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.

New Delhi, August 2
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and discussed the farmers’ issue.

The meeting assumes significance as the Centre is expected to announce the minimum support price for paddy in the coming days.

The two leaders also discussed the issue of storage as the FCI godowns did not have much room to store more grain which arrive the market in the coming days.

The state Chief Minister welcomed Mr Vajpayee’s move to withdraw his offer to quit the post.

Mr Badal also met Union Power Minister Suresh Prabhu and discussed power situation in the state and various power projects in the state.

BJP appeasing minorities: VHP
Tribune News Service and UNI

New Delhi, August 2
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Vishnu Hari Dalmia today accused the BJP of indulging in minority appeasement policy and said the VHP would go ahead with its Ram temple construction plan in Ayodhya despite government’s opposition.

Talking to mediapersons after deposing before the Liberhan Commission of inquiry probing the December 6, 1992 demolition of the Babri mosque, Mr Dalmia said the BJP, which had supported the Ayodhya movement earlier, was now indulging in vote bank politics based on appeasement of minorities.