GULBARGA: The Convener of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and former Defence Minister, George Fernandes, said on Wednesday that the developments in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the party President, L.K. Advani's statements on Mohammed Ali Jinnah will not affect the prospects of the NDA partners in the coming Bihar Assembly election.

Addressing a press conference here, he said Mr. Advani's resignation and its withdrawal are internal affairs of the BJP and will not affect the NDA. The controversy over statements of leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh about Mr. Advani is an internal matter of the Sangh Parivar and will have no bearing on the relations between the NDA partners and the BJP.

Mr. Fernandes said the NDA endorsed Mr. Advani's statements on Jinnah. To a question on the VHP describing Mr. Advani as a "traitor,'' Mr. Fernandes said it reflected the thinking of the leaders of the organisation.

On the proposed move of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) to join the NDA,

Mr. Fernandes said the AGP, which was once part of the NDA, is welcome to join the alliance. However, he did not see any chance of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam joining the NDA in the near future. The NDA partners will not join hands with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J. Jayalalitha, in the next Assembly election in Tamil Nadu, he added.

He said that there are no fissures in the NDA and the decision of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to stay away from the NDA will not have any impact on the alliance. The TDP was never part of the NDA and only extended support to the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, he pointed out.

Replying to a question, Mr. Fernandes said the NDA partners contesting against one another in Assembly elections is nothing new.

Mr. Fernands, who is the President of the Janata Dal (U), said that in Karnataka, the Janata Dal (U), which is part of the NDA, does not have any tie-ups with the BJP and it will continue to maintain its separate identity. However, the parties will contest the Bihar Assembly elections jointly. The two parties will not have a tie-up with the Lok Jana Shakti of the Union Minister for Chemical and Fertilizers, Ram Vilas Paswan, he added.

Mr. Fernandes claimed that Mr. Paswan's party has started disintegrating and a majority of the legislators who won the last election on the party's symbol will join with the Janata Dal (U) shortly. He said he is confident of the Janata Dal (U) and BJP combine securing a majority in the Bihar Assembly. The results of the election will trigger major political changes and hasten mid-term elections to the Lok Sabha, he felt.

Arms supply to Nepal opposed

Bijapur Staff Correspondent writes:

Mr. Fernandes said India should not provide arms to the Nepal regime headed by King Gyanendra.

Mr. Fernandes, who visited Ingaleshwar village in Basavanabagewadi taluk to participate in a function, was talking to presspersons. The former Defence Minister said the King has worked against democracy and curtailed civil rights, including freedom of the press. The regime headed by such a person should not be given military aid, he added. Asked whether such a measure will not bring Nepal closer to China and Pakistan, he said

There is no cause for worry as India has good relations with China, he added.

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