Samata does a U-turn on Pathak's resignation

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 10. With the Opposition stepping up pressure for the resignation of the Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Harin Pathak, from the Atal Behari Vajpayee Government, the Samata Party today joined the bandwagon for a while only to retract its stand in no time.

Like the Congress, the CPI and the CPI(M) demand that the Minister be removed by the Prime Minister, the Samata Party which is part of the ruling coalition, is also understood to have argued against Mr. Pathak's continuance in the Government since he has been charged by a Ahmedabad court for murder in an anti- reservation riot in 1985.

The Samata Party sources had indicated that the Defence Minister and NDA Convenor, Mr. George Fernandes, met Mr. Vajpayee, where he is understood to have expressed concern over the development.

However, hours later, the party officially refuted the news of Mr. Fernandes having met the Prime Minister and asking for Mr. Pathak's resignation.

``Nothing could be further from truth. The fact is that Mr. Fernandes has not met the Prime Minister for the last three days. The party categorically states that Mr. Fernandes or any other Samata leader has not made any suggestion to the Prime Minister to seek resignation of Mr. Harin Pathak,'' the Samata Spokesman, Dr. Shambhu Shrivastwa, said.

Mr. Pathak and the Gujarat Health Minister, Mr. Ashok Bhatt, were framed by a Ahemdabad court on charges of murder and rioting in the stir in which a policeman was killed.

Sources in the NDA had earlier suggested that Mr. Fernandes held informal consultations with some of the allies and come to the conclusion that it would be difficult to defend the Minister when the winter session of Parliament starts on November 20. The argument being that in earlier cases, Central Ministers like Mr. S. Muttaiah and Mr. Buta Singh were asked to resign from the Union Council of Ministers following charges against them in cases of corruption.

Meanwhile, the BJP said the party would await feedback from its vice-president, Mr. Jana Krishnamurty, who is currently in Ahemdabad to hold discussions with the State party leaders and on details of the case.

On his part, Mr. Pathak remained closeted with lawyers through the day with his staff stating that the Minister would meet the media in due course.

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Section  : National
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