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Uphill task for Lalji Tandon

By J.P. Shukla

LUCKNOW, APRIL 13. The Bharatiya Janata Party has been put to severe strain to overcome the "loss of face" it has suffered with the death of 22 slum-dwellers who came to receive free saris at a function organised to celebrate the birthday of the Leader of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Lalji Tandon, on Monday.

Mr. Tandon, who has been enjoying an elevated position among the BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh because of his responsibility to nurse the constituency of the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has an uphill task ahead.

Mr. Tandon has said that his admirers had been holding such functions regularly and it was a matter of "sheer chance" that the stampede had occurred this time.

The Opposition alleges that the slum dwellers were brought in chartered buses to receive the gifts and that it was a "corrupt practice" to influence the outcome of elections. Some Congress and Left leaders have demanded action against Mr. Tandon for his alleged "complicity."

A group of All-India Democratic Women's Association led by Brinda Karat today held a demonstration near the Assembly here to denounce Mr. Tandon's "role" in the entire episode.

Congress leaders have decided to lodge a formal complaint against the BJP with the Chief Election Commissioner on the ground that the sari distribution was a violation of the model code of conduct. The function was not held under the banner of the BJP but the organisers did have a formal connection with the party, the complainants said."Who was responsible for the safety of people who had been brought to the spot by the admirers of Mr. Tandon to participate in the programme," they asked.

The BJP has received some solace with the Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, saying that the tragedy should not be given political colours.

Some BJP leaders in the State, who have been envious of Mr. Tandon's unique position in the party, are apparently at Mr. Tandon's discomfiture. "

Hopefully, Mr. Tandon would be cut to size now, one of them said."

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