The Hindu : Karnataka News : Sindhia plays down differences with Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Sindhia plays down differences with Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JUNE 5. The Janata Dal (Secular) leader, P.G.R. Sindhia, who was sworn in as a Minister today, played down the differences between the Congress and the JD(S) that came to the fore before the expansion of the Ministry, stating that controversies were bound to there in the formation of a coalition government.

Addressing presspersons after being sworn in, Mr. Sindhia said coalition governments were the order of the day. Despite differences between the JD(S) and the Congress, the Government was formed to tackle the problems of farmers and the poor who were suffering.

Mr. Sindhia, and M.P. Prakash who was also inducted into the Ministry, said there was no point in criticising the Congress now. The election manifesto of the Congress was vastly different from that of the JD(S). Leaders of the both the parties would sit together and finalise a common minimum programme (CMP).

Unlike the previous Government, which had given greater attention to information technology and biotechnology, their Government would focus on rural development.

Asked whether the Cabinet had discussed the issue of admission of students to professional courses, both the Ministers said the issue did not come up for discussion. The Cabinet meeting on June 8 would discuss the CET issue.

Mr. Sindhia said the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, was a lucky person in the sense that the State, which was reeling under a drought for three consecutive years, began to receive rain coinciding with his takeover.

Mr. Sindhia said the JD(S) MLA for Krishnarajpet in Mandya District, Krishna, would be elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Mr. Krishna is a former Janata Dal Minister and has been a member of the Lok Sabha.

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