BJP resolves to keep ties with JD (U) intact

4 Apr, 2007

PATNA: The state executive committee meeting of the BJP has resolved to keep the JD(U)-BJP alliance intact at any cost reiterated that the party would fight for the cause of Bihar's development. In order to draw attention of the people towards the "step-motherly treatment" meted out to Bihar with regard to increasing the number of persons living below the poverty line (BPL), increase in kerosene quota, payment of arrears money for the construction of highways and payment against acquired land for railway projects, the party has decided to stage demonstrations at all district headquarters on April 9. "If need be, the party will also organise demonstrations in Delhi to draw the people's attention towards the Centre's apathy," the meeting proposed. However, there was a word of caution from the senior BJP leader and former Gujarat governor Kailashpati Mishra. Mishra said that at no cost the BJP-JD(U) alliance in the state would be broken and maintained that it was unfortunate to see that some friends were clamouring to become members in the 20-point programme and different boards and corporations of the state. "I need a dedicated worker who can help in building the nation — able and stronger," Mishra said. On his part, state BJP chief Radhamohan Singh said the party will stage dharnas and demonstrations on April 9 in all district headquarters to protest the Centre's failure to contain price rise and growth of terrorism in the country. Speaking on the occasion, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said that there had been definite flaw in preparing the BPL list by the Centre and now the state government was determined to get it corrected. He also charged Centre with deliberately not increasing the state's quota of kerosene oil. He appealed to the party workers to get the BPL list corrected with the help of block development officers (BDOs) and DM at the district-level. Modi said that number of people living above poverty line (APL) could be increased only after Centre provided aid. Talking about the Centre's "indifference" towards roads project in the state, road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav said for repair of 3629 km of national highways a paltry sum of Rs 70 crore was made available which was spent by January 31, 2007. When the Centre failed to provide additional money for the work despite repeated requests, the state government managed Rs 308 crore from its own resources. Others who spoke on the occasion include Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, Janardan Sigriwal and S Mayukh.