M A I N   N E W S

Undue criticism spoils atmosphere: PM
Tribune News Service

Raipur, July 19
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today strongly supported the path of negotiation for resolving the contentious Ayodhya issue and welcomed “constructive comments” but took strong exceptions to “unnecessarily blaming” each other, which spoils the atmosphere.

Without blaming any organisation, Mr Vajpayee said: “Nobody is of the view that any agreement on the Ayodhya issue would be arrived at ignoring the VHP. There can always be a scope for differences, but there should be no accusations and counter-accusations. We always welcome constructive comments, but unnecessarily blaming spoils the atmosphere.”

Addressing the BJP’s National Executive meeting on the second day, Mr Vajpayee said; “We shall continue to do what we feel is correct and we will not take back our steps.”

“We have passed a resolution on the Sri Ram janambhoomi. It is good that a temple is built at the Ram janamsthan. It is our desire to solve the issue through goodwill. The most important thing is to have negotiations and we will continue on this path,” he said.

Apparently countering the allegations by the opposition and the Sangh Parivar outfits like the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch that the government’s economic policies were influenced by the West, he categorically said: “India will never formulate or change its policies under anyone’s pressure.”

On the issue of reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures, Mr Vajpayee said: “We will not allow attempts to put us in the dock succeed with political motives on the issue.”

“We will make all efforts to bring in the legislation on women’s reservation in the coming session of Parliament,” he said hours after the National Executive adopted a resolution favouring reservation of 33 per cent seats for women in the Lok Sabha as double-member constituencies to accommodate them.