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BJP chief sees no threat to government, says defection law should go

Bharatiya Janata Party president Kushabhau Thakre claims there is no threat to the Vajpayee government in the wake of the ''ultimatum'' issued by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo J Jayalalitha over the Cauvery water dispute.

Addressing a news conference in Jaipur on Monday, Thakre admitted that the coalition government at the Centre had been facing troubles from its allies. However, he added, the government had been able to overcome the troubles through mutual dialogue and understanding.

Thakre said Jayalalitha "might be having practical difficulties," but there was no threat to the government as she was also a partner in the government.

Regarding the Cauvery water dispute, the BJP chief said that inter-state disputes over river waters, borders or other matters could be solved by mutual dialogue and understanding.

Without naming any party, Thakre condemning the attitude of the ''smaller parties'' towards the Women's Reservation Bill. He said these groups were obstructing its passage at a time when all the major political parties like the BJP, Congress and Left parties were in its favour.

Thakre reiterated his party stand of not favouring reservation on a regional or communal basis, saying the BJP did not want to re-establish a pre-independence British practice. This system had led to a division of our nation, he added.

He also stressed the need for repealment of the Anti-Defection Act. ''I personally feel there should be no act or law for trying legislators.''

He said his party favoured a review of the law in the present context and in view of the experiences after enactment of the law. There were a lot of shortcomings in the Act, so it should be reviewed, he said.

Earlier, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and former state BJP president Hari Shankar Bhabhra had demanded repealment of the Act, saying that in the prevailing political situation the government's stability was the utmost need of the hour, especially when no party had a majority of its own.

UNI

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