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Jethmalani advises Vajpayee to dissolve Lok Sabha

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

Urban Development Minister Ram Jethmalani today disclosed that he had submitted his resignation from the Union Cabinet on April 9, a full eight days before the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government lost the vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha.

"When I came to know of the notification issued by the Government of India, which had the effect of transferring part-heard cases from competent courts to courts selected by the accused [Jayalalitha], I advised my colleagues that the notification must be withdrawn and the withdrawal reported to the Supreme Court. I regret this was not done. On April 9, I tendered my resignation," Jethmalani said.

The minister said the Vajpayee government continues to be as legitimate as it was before the vote of confidence. "I have advised Prime Minister Vajpayee that his Cabinet can still recommend dissolution of the House and this advice will be binding on the President," he claimed.

Asked if this would not be a desperate attempt to stay in power till the election, Jethmalani said, "We have a right to continue in office. The President can still tell Vajpayee that he should continue. Our one-vote defeat was not a defeat at all. We have a superior right over the claims of the Opposition. They said they could form the government in five minutes. Two days after the Vajpayee government tendered its resignation, they are still talking."

Jethmalani claimed that the government had achieved a lot in 13 months. "We have made India a superpower. We have told potential aggressors that they cannot take us for granted anymore," he said.

The minister also disclosed that the income-tax department has served a notice on Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, MP, for allegedly possessing wealth beyond his known sources of income. "I believe he has Rs15 crore [Rs150 million] in his personal account besides party funds," he said.

He claimed that the proceedings against Dr Swamy had begun much before his famous tea party, which set off the chain of events that led to the defeat of the Vajpayee government.

He claimed to have been unhappy with the appeasement of All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief J Jayalalitha by the government and having told the prime minister so.

Jethmalani agreed that the country's economic condition does not permit frequent elections, but said there is no way out. He said Vajpayee's stature has gone up manifold and the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies are certain to return to power with a bigger mandate when elections are held.

At a crowded press conference, the minister also released a three-and-a-half page 'confidential' letter to Sonia Gandhi in which he has cautioned the Congress president against Dr Swamy's designs and reminded her that he is believed to have played a role in the murder of her husband Rajiv Gandhi.

"I have listed 20 counts for his behaviour. I hope she reads them carefully and takes note of them," Jethmalani said.

He also said no purpose would be served by moving the Supreme Court against the ruling of Speaker G M C Balayogi in the Giridhar Gamang case. "Don't blame the speaker for his decision," he said.

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