The Hindu : Sonia not acceptable to people: Chautala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 15, 2004

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Other States - Haryana

Sonia not acceptable to people: Chautala

By Rajesh Ahuja

CHANDIGARH, JAN.14. The Haryana Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala, today said that the people can accept anybody except the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, a foreigner, as Prime Minister.

Talking to media persons at Bhatinda in Punjab, he described the Congress as "most dangerous'' and attributed lack of development in the country to its wrong policies. "The people had tested the Congress many times but it had always failed to deliver the goods. And now there was no question of it coming to power especially under the stewardship of a foreigner,'' he asserted.

In a quick volte-face, Mr. Chautala described relations between the Indian National Lok Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party as "very cordial''. Until yesterday, Mr.Chautala had been asserting that the ball was in the court of the BJP on continuing the alliance with the INLD. However, reacting to the statements issued by the State level BJP leaders, he described them as "immature in politics.''

Clearly hinting that he had got a green signal from the BJP bigwigs that the alliance would continue, he advised the State BJP leaders not to issue "irresponsible'' statements when they had no "power to take any major decision.''

Describing the INLD as a disciplined cadre-based party, he asserted that there had been no differences among INLD leaders. On the other hand, there were open differences among the Congress leaders both at the State and national level. While commenting on Punjab affairs, he said that the crisis in the Congress was not yet over and he predicted that the Amarinder regime would fall soon due to internal bickering.

He reiterated that the INLD would contest the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana and four other northern States. Commenting on some parties parting ways with the NDA Government, he described this as a natural process and asserted that this would not affect the NDA alliance.

He claimed that he had fulfilled the promises made to the people. He stated that Panchkula town would be developed as Science City and Information Technology Centre on the same pattern as Hyderabad.

Mr.Chautala said that INLD had made a suggestion that the Lok Sabha polls should be held in May. However, the party was ready to face the polls any time and he had convened a meeting of the executive in Delhi tomorrow.

Moreover, workers' meetings were being convened at the <243>district headquarters before <243>January 26 to decide the course of action for the ensuing elections.

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Sonia not acceptable to people: Chautala