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BJP to support debate on Bihar, W Bengal

The Bharatiya Janata Party said on Wednesday that it would support a censure motion in the Lok Sabha on Bihar and West Bengal.

BJP parliamentary party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said his party would support any ally who wanted a discussion under Rule 184 on the situation in Bihar -- ruled by the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Similarly, if the Trinamool Congress -- a partner in the National Democratic Alliance -- wanted to move a censure motion against the Communist Party of India-Marxist government in West Bengal, his party would support it, Malhotra said.

"Sure, it is our way of getting even with the opposition parties, who have brought about a situation where the censure motion pertaining to Gujarat has been admitted in the Lok Sabha," he said.

He said: "If the opposition wants to test our patience, so can we. Political brinkmanship is not limited to any political party."

"Everybody knows that Bihar's law and order situation leaves a lot to be desired. Similarly, in West Bengal, the law and order situation has deteriorated considerably to the fear and anxiety of the people of the state," Malhotra said.

Meanwhile, a Congress spokesman said that the party had asked its members in the Lok Sabha to attend the censure motion.

A Lok Sabha member of the BJP indicated that barring the Telegu Desam Party -- which would make up its mind on April 28 -- all NDA allies had decided to vote in favour of the government.

BJP MPs also said that the wording of the censure motion -- admitted by Deputy Speaker P M Sayeed -- did not just apply to Gujarat, but other states also, including those ruled by the Congress.

The motion said: "This house expresses its grave concern over the failure of the administration in ensuring the security of the minority community in various parts of the country, especially in Gujarat and urges the government to take effective measures to restore confidence of the minority communities and protect them."

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