BJP allies meet today on rollback

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 25. Allies and supporting parties of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are meeting here tomorrow to formulate a strategy to pressure the Vajpayee Government to reverse the recent hikes in the prices of petroleum products and foodgrains supplied through the Public Distribution System (PDS), even as the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, maintained that it was for the Union Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, to take a view on the demand.

The Prime Minister, who has been pleading with all parties to appreciate the Government compulsions, told correspondents in response to specific questions that it was for Mr. Sinha to decide.

At a meeting of the BJP MPs last week, Mr. Yashwant Sinha had said that it was for Mr. Vajpayee and the Union Cabinet to decide on the demand for a rollback. Concerned at the public outcry over the price hikes, the MPs had urged Mr. Sinha to give a serious thought to the demand. The BJP Parliamentary Party would meet on April 27 to discuss the issue again.

Despite strong pleas by the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister not to insist on a rollback, the allies and supporting parties of the NDA have not given up hope. They want the Government to demonstrate `sensitivity' to the sentiments from various quarters and agree for at least a partial rollback.

They concede they are in no position to back the cut motions, proposed to be moved by the Congress(I) and other Opposition parties, on the Finance Bill. ``We are aware of our limitations. But at the same time we want the Government to understand our predicament and provide us a face saver,'' observed a senior leader of the NDA.

Speaking at a CII conference today, Mr. Sinha complained about what he termed as the weakening of the consensus on economic reforms, with parties pursuing a partisan agenda. Defending the budget proposals, he said the various measures would help eradicate poverty and unemployment by targeting eight to 10 per cent economic growth.

Mr. Sinha gave no indication of his thinking on the demand of political parties, including the allies, to roll-back certain budgetary measures. Refusing to divulge if the budgetary proposals would be changed, he said the Finance Bill due to be discussed next month would reveal the Government's thinking.

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Section  : National
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