The Hindu : National : BJP distances itself from Tandon episode

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 18, 2004

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National

BJP distances itself from Tandon episode

By Our special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 17. The Bharatiya Janata Party today denied that it had anything to do with the sari distribution function in Lucknow on April 12 in which 22 women were killed in a stampede and said that it had sought details from the party leader, Lalji Tandon, in the context of the show-cause notice served on it by the Election Commission following the incident.

Speaking to reporters, the BJP spokesperson, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said the party received the EC's notice today and was going through it.

"We have asked him [Tandon] to give details about the incident. Our stand is that there is no direct or indirect involvement of the party in the function either at the State or the Central level."

Accusing the Congress of "acting like an extra-constitutional authority" for demanding action against Mr. Tandon, he said that it was for the EC to take a decision.

"It seems that the Congress, instead of having faith in a constitutional body like the Election Commission, is acting like an extra constitutional authority."

Mr. Naqvi emphasised that Mr. Tandon was not the election agent of the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, either in the 1998 or 1999 elections and said the BJP would file its reply to the show-cause notice after gathering all details about the incident.

He refuted the Congress allegation that the BJP was pressuring the former Union Minister, Ram Jethmalani, to withdraw from the electoral battle in Lucknow in favour of Mr. Vajpayee.

Claiming that it was a baseless charge, he said, the Congress should confirm all details and facts before making such statements.

Mr. Naqvi accused the Congress and other Opposition parties of thinking "negatively" on the issue of development and said they were "helpless" because of the achievements of the Government and also because they did not have concrete issues.

Stating that all the poll surveys were unanimous in their prediction of the National Democratic Alliance retaining power, he said that opinion polls had shown that the people approved of Mr. Vajpayee's leadership, the BJP's policies and the stability provided by the NDA Government.

This was in sharp contrast to the scepticism that prevailed five years ago about the ability of coalitions to provide a stable government, he said.

Mr. Naqvi announced that Jaiveer Godara would contest from Hissar Lok Sabha constituency in Haryana.

With this, the BJP has announced the candidates for all the 10 seats it is contesting in the State.

`A great tragedy'

The BJP spokesperson expressed the party's deep sorrow over the death of the south Indian actress, Soundarya, in a plane crash near Bangalore. Soundarya had recently joined the party and was campaigning for it.

Mr. Naqvi said it was a great tragedy for the party. The BJP also mourned the death of Soundarya's brother, Amarnath, who was in charge of the party's publicity, Ramesh Kadam, party worker, and the pilot, Joy Phillips, he said.

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