M A I N   N E W S

TDP writes to LS Deputy Speaker
Seeks debate on Gujarat CM’s issue

New Delhi, April 16
With deadlock persisting in Parliament on the issue of removal of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, TDP, a key NDA supporter, today wrote to the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker demanding discussion on the matter, while JD(U) held informal parleys with some other NDA partners, including the Trinamool Congress (TC), on the issue.

TDP sources said the Deputy Speaker, Mr P.M. Sayeed, had been urged to allow a discussion in the House and the party would have no objection even if the issue was taken up under Rule 184 which requires voting.

The party’s stand on the censure motion would be decided by the TDP Politburo, the sources said adding that the party was not relenting on its demand for Mr Modi’s removal and objection to holding of Assembly elections in the state immediately.

Meanwhile, the JD(U) Parliamentary Party, which met under the presidentship of Mr Sharad Yadav, stuck to its demand for Mr Modi’s ouster. Viewing the communal violence in Gujarat as a national issue and not a state issue, the party MPs demanded imposition of President’s Rule there.

The sources said a demand was made for discussing the matter under any rule so the party could register its protest on the floor of the House.

The JD(U) Parliamentary Party also decided to continue pressing the government on issues like hike in prices of fertiliser and kerosene and proposed cut in the PF interest rate, the sources said.

“Leaders of almost all major non-Congress Opposition parties met today. We have decided to insist on a discussion under Rule 184 the CPM leader, Mr Somnath Chatterjee, told reporters after the meeting.

Asked about the stand of the Congress, he said “It is an open appeal to all parties. Let them take their own decision.”

Those who attended the meeting included leaders of all Left parties, the Samajwadi Party, the NCP, the RJD, the Kerala Congress and the IUML.

“I am happy to say that all these leaders have given the notices to the Deputy Speaker. All of them have signed the notices under Rule 184,” Mr Chatterjee said.

Kolkata: The All India Trinamool Congress would vote for the Vajpayee government in the event of any no-confidence motion, party supremo Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday.

Talking to newspersons here, Ms Banerjee said though her party had differences with the NDA government on certain issues, toppling of the government was no solution and the Trinamool Congress would not take any step in this regard. UNI, PTI

TDP says no to Speaker’s post

Hyderabad, April 16
Nursing a strained relationship with the BJP leadership on the Narendra Modi issue, the TDP, a key outside supporter of the NDA government, is unwilling to accept Lok Sabha Speaker’s post in the changed political scenario.

“It will be untenable to take the post at a time when we are fighting for removal of Modi and opposing early elections in Gujarat. We will not compromise on our principled stand,” TDP sources said today.

As the stand-off between the two parties continued, TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, during hectic consultations with his party leaders and ministers in the last few days, was understood to have ruled out the possibility of accepting the Speaker’s post that fell vacant due to the death of G. M. C. Balayogi in a helicopter crash last month.

The party has been mulling over the issue ever since its demand for Modi’s removal was bluntly rejected by the BJP’s national executive. The BJP’s move to go in for early Assembly elections in the trouble-torn state had further added to the ally’s discomfiture.

Stopping short of withdrawing support to the NDA government, the TDP has made it clear that it will persist with demand for Modi’s ouster and dropping the move to hold poll in Gujarat.

In the backdrop of growing rift in an already tenuous relationship with the BJP, the TDP leadership is veering round the view that accepting any post at this juncture would prove to be a liability for the party. PTI

BJP may take action against Shanta

New Delhi, April 16
BJP president Jana Krishnamurthy today said disciplinary action might be taken against Union Food Minister Shanta Kumar who had demanded the resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Talking to private news channel “Aaj Tak”, the BJP chief said Mr Shanta Kumar was sounded a warning in this regard during the party’s national executive meeting in Goa.

The Food Minister had demanded the resignation of Mr Modi in the wake of the communal riots in Gujarat in a recent interview. UNI