The Hindu : National : Fernandes sees no danger to NDA

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 09, 2004

National

National

Fernandes sees no danger to NDA

By Our Special Correspondent

HUBLI, NOV. 8. The members of the National Democratic Alliance will meet here on November 15 to discuss issues pertaining to the alliance.

This was disclosed here today by George Fernandes, convener of the NDA and president of the Janata Dal (United), in response to a question by presspersons on the BJP returning to the Hindutva agenda under pressure from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Mr. Fernandes said the meeting had been convened at the request of the JD (U). There had been too many confusing reports and they would come up for discussion at the meeting.

To a question, Mr. Fernandes said he foresaw no danger to the NDA. He had not noticed any perceptible change in the BJP's attitude towards the NDA after Mr. Advani became the party's president. Mr. Fernandes denied that the Lok Awaz, a forum started by him, was a precursor to starting an "anti-BJP and anti-Congress front." It was formed to raise issues affecting the people.

He termed disgraceful the "transfer and reshuffling" of Governors by the United Progressive Alliance Government. It had now become clear that the Congress wanted to accommodate "its sidekicks" in that position, he said calling it an "old habit" of the Congress.

He said the coming elections to the Bihar Legislative Assembly had assumed considerable importance in the context of the far-reaching impact it would have on the national political scene. It was necessary for everybody to join hands to ensure that Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal was dislodged from power. What was to be opposed in Bihar was its "extraordinary political culture." If this was allowed to spread, the country would soon turn into a "banana republic." Mr. Fernandes said.

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