The Hindu : Pressure to withdraw some `harsh steps'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 17, 2002

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Pressure to withdraw some `harsh steps'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 16. Worried about its disappearing middle-class support base, the Bharatiya Janata Party decided at its parliamentary party meeting here today that the Union Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, should meet party MPs some time next week to listen to their grievances and suggestions and do whatever is possible to give relief to the salaried class.

Several partymen wanted Mr. Singh to withdraw some of the harsh measures announced in the last budget which has hit the middle class hard. However, it was pointed out that while no major change could be made in the budget, the Finance Minister would listen to the party's views, study the party committees' reports on the subject and see what could be done. Members also expressed concern over the plight of pensioners and erosion of interest income on small savings.

Though the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, was in the chair, he signalled that the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, should address the meeting.

Mr. Advani told his partymen that after the despondency at the BJP's Goa national executive committee which came after the Assembly elections defeat, more recently the party had begun to experience the ``feel good'' factor, according to the party spokesperson, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, who briefed correspondents.

Mr. Advani has apparently come to the conclusion that even as there is growing enthusiasm in the BJP ranks, the Opposition is feeling helpless. However, it is conceded that there is the apprehension that the monsoon this year may get further delayed in several States in the North, and that could cause major problems for farmers.

On the Jammu massacre, several MPs demanded that the Government take ``strong steps'' to prevent such incidents.

Mr. Advani did not respond to this, as an adjournment motion on the subject was to be taken up in the Lok Sabha.

Privately, several party MPs concede that the predominant view in the party is that the Government should hit Pakistan hard. But clearly that is not what the Government is willing to do, given the fact that Pakistan is a nuclear power.

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