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Vajpayee initiates talks with Akalis

To allay the misgivings of the Akali Dal on the Udam Singh Nagar and other issues, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has initiated a dialogue with the Akali leadership.

Stating this, BJP spokesman Kishan Lal Sharma told the media today that 'there is no danger to the Vajpayee government'.

The Shiromoni Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee president G S Tohra and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday threatened that the party might 'withdraw support' to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government at the Centre if it did not respect the party's sentiments about keeping the Udham Singh Nagar district out of the proposed state of Uttarachal.

Meanwhile, BJP president Kushabhau Thakre expressed 'optimism' that the threat posed by the Akali Dal will blow over.

He, however, added that the 'majority view' of the people of Udham Singh Nagar was in favour of remaining with the proposed hill state of Uttaranchal.

The Uttar Pradesh government also wants the same since Udham Singh Nagar is part of Nainital district, which is now being merged with the new state, he said.

As for Bihar, the BJP president wondered ''if passing a resolution in the assembly criticising the role of the state governor does not tantamount to break down of the Constitution.''

According to the Constitution, an assembly or Parliament cannot pass adverse remarks against the governor or the President, he pointed out.

UNI

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