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"The NDA appeals to the TDP, which as our valued friend has steadfastly supported us all these four years, to continue its support to the government, " NDA convener George Fernandes told reporters in Delhi while reading out a resolution adopted at a 90-minute meeting held at the prime minister's residence.
Fernandes said the NDA is committed to its secular agenda from which there has been no deviation nor shall any be permitted.
Referring to TDP's demand for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's resignation, he said the NDA is of the view that in a federal polity, interference in the democratic functioning of states or of the Centre determining who is or is not to be the chief minister of any particular state will completely distort the constitutional balance of federalism.
Fernandes said the meeting was convened by him on the eve of the resumption of the Budget session of Parliament to take stock of national developments and to discuss recent statements by NDA allies.
The Trinamool Congress stayed away from the meeting saying it would go by the TDP's decision on the continuance of support to the Vajpayee government on the Gujarat issue.
However, Fernandes said Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee told him that she would be unable to attend the meeting as she was occupied with the new year celebrations in West Bengal.
Lok Janashakti leader and Mines Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had informed him that he would not be present at the meeting as his flight was delayed, Fernandes said.
The NDA, he said, was unanimous in its resolve to defeat the scheming of the Congress and its cohorts.
"We will not permit any destabilisation of the country at this critical juncture and that too when our defence forces are deployed on the borders," Fernandes, who is defence minister, said.
He said the meeting decided that a NDA delegation should be sent to Gujarat to review the relief and rehabilitation work in the state.
Strongly criticising recent statements of Congress president Sonia Gandhi about the prime minister, he said, "These are not only irresponsible and in bad taste, but they also represent the lowest ebb of political immorality."
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