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Uttar Pradesh
Paswan warns BJP over Ayodhya issue
By Our Staff Correspondent
HARDWAR, DEC. 8. The Lok Janshakti Party will contest the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections against the BJP if it tries to make Ayodhya a poll issue, the Union Minister and LJP chief, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan, has said.
Addressing newspersons on the second day of the first national convention-cum-training camp of the party here today, Mr. Paswan said the LJP stood for secular values and would not tolerate anyone trying to whip up communal frenzy in the country. ``If the LJP is forced to contest the elections against the BJP, it will definitely have an impact on the NDA government at the Centre,'' he said.
Describing the forthcoming elections in four States as crucial, Mr. Paswan called for greater coordination and cooperation among the NDA allies.
The LJP would continue crusading for declaration of employment for the youth as a fundamental right, creation of a national fund for the welfare of farmers, acceptance of the court verdict on Ayodhya by all, and interest-free loans to roadside entrepreneurs, Mr. Paswan said.
Without naming the Bahujan Samaj Party, Mr. Paswan lashed out at the leaders of the BSP for trying to use the name of Dr. Ambedkar to mislead the dalits. ``These so-called saviors of the dalits have been describing their opponents as Manuvadis while adopting Manuvadi lifestyles themselves,'' he said.
The LJP had emerged stronger in Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Mr. Ram Asrey Kushwaha and Mr. Rajendra Parekh and would win a good number of seats in the coming elections, he added. The three-day national convention cum training camp being attended by over 3,000 district level leaders from various States is being held to equip party workers with the political thinking of the party and how they could benefit from the drawbacks in other parties.
Among others who spoke were the Dalit Sena chief, Mr. Ramchandra Paswan, former Union Minister, Mr. Jainarayan, Mr. Zaffar Ali and experts from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
Although the LJP is seeking some seats from the ruling BJP to contest the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttaranchal, the saffron brigade, which commands much influence in the hills, is unlikely to accept the request. Also, LJP has hardly any say in the hill State or adjoining plains of western Uttar Pradesh.
PTI adds: Mr. Paswan indicated that he was in favour of a joint front of the various Janata Dal factions to fight the forthcoming Assembly polls in the four States.
``I have no reservations about the emergence of any joint front of like-minded groups of the Janata Dal to fight the polls,'' Mr. Paswan told reporters on the second day of the national convention of the party.
Denying reports of his ``silent approval'' for a merger of the splinter groups of the erstwhile Janata Dal, Mr. Paswan said ``what I have said is that I have no reservations in bringing the party on a single platform to fight the elections on a common programme. As regards the merger, no decision can be taken without due consultations with party functionaries.''
Admitting that discussions are going on within the party on the question of merger, the LJP chief said there was strong opinion among the functionaries that the frequent break- ups and mergers were not good for the party.- PTI
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