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Friday, Apr 22, 2005

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National

Baseless, says BJP

Special Correspondent

`Charges baseless and objectionable'

Anti-collision devices not installed `Appoint new Railway Minister' UPA's `blackmailing tactics'

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Thursday described as "baseless, objectionable and mischievous" the allegation of the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, that Sangh Parivar activists had attacked him on Thursday. Mr. Prasad was on a visit to Samlaya in Gujarat, where the Sabarmati Express was involved in an accident. The BJP accused Mr. Prasad of attempting to "cover up" his handling of the Railway Ministry by levelling such "baseless" charges. "As per the information we have received from the Gujarat Government, there has been no attack. There was no organised attack but some miscreant did throw a stone at his vehicle. All Gujarat Ministers and officers were present at the railway station," BJP Parliamentary party spokesman, V.K. Malhotra, told reporters here.

He asked why the Railway Ministry had failed to install anti-collision devices as announced by Mr. Prasad. "He is trying to cover it up by making such wild and baseless allegations."

Demanding that responsibility should be fixed for the train mishap, the BJP Deputy leader in the Lok Sabha said it was time the Prime Minister appointed a new Railway Minister. On Mr. Prasad's demand for the dismissal of Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, Mr. Malhotra said: "He has been demanding that for the last three years."

The UPA Government was indulging in "bullying and blackmailing tactics" by making "wild allegations" of corruption against the former NDA Central Ministers. He added: "The UPA Government should go ahead and file chargesheets against the NDA Ministers.

They have not been able to find even one Minister guilty. They run the Government but have dithered from taking any action. We reiterate that the CVC and Phukan Commission reports be made public.

"The UPA Government has been only hurling allegations and disrupting proceedings in Parliament. How the representatives of South African armaments firm, Denel, are still found walking in the corridors of power?"

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