The Hindu : National : Sonia action improper: BJP

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Tuesday, Jul 20, 2004

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National

Sonia action improper: BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 19. The Bharatiya Janata Party today thought it was improper on the part of the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, to announce disbursement of relief from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for the families of the children who died or were injured in the Kumbakonam school fire. That was the Prime Minister's prerogative, and his alone, the BJP spokesperson, V.K. Malhotra, said.

The BJP also criticised the United Progressive Alliance Government for retaining Shibu Soren in the Council of Ministers even though a Jharkhand court had issued an arrest warrant. Mr. Malhotra described this as "shameful." He reiterated his party's demand that all "tainted" Ministers be dropped. The continuation of these Ministers would encourage Chief Ministers to induct all kinds of criminal elements as Ministers in their Governments, he said.

On the manner in which the BJP had "fired" the former Uttar Pradesh State unit president, Vinay Katiyar, Mr. Malhotra said Mr. Katiyar had not been made a "sacrificial goat" — an allegation made by Mr. Katiyar himself — for the party's poor showing in the State where it won only 10 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. Mr. Malhotra said the party had its own reasons for deciding to change the State president.

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