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BJP cool to Jaya's decision

The parliamentary party executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party today reacted coolly to AIADMK leader Jayalalitha's withdrawal of support to the BJP-led coalition, saying ''it was expected''.

The news of AIADMK withdrawing its support to the Vajpayee government came when the executive was in session at the prime minister's official residence in the morning.

Later, talking to reporters, party spokesman M Venkaiah Naidu said, ''There is no problem and we will face the challenge''.

''The game-plan is unfolding in instalments''. It is at the behest of the Congress that Jayalalitha has taken this step, he claimed. However, the BJP-led coalition will defeat them on the floor of the house, he added.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who presided over the meeting, called upon the members to be ''vigilant and active'' in view of the opposition moves. He assured them that the government enjoyed ''enough support'' to overcome any challenge. ''There is no problem'', he added.

Asked to comment on Jayalalitha's allegation that the Vajpayee government was a ''threat to national security'', Naidu wondered how ''any sane person'' could think on those lines when this government has conducted nuclear tests and taken the bold step to successfully test fire the Agni-II missile, besides firmly resolving to combat terrorism.

''They (AIADMK) have become a laughing stock by making such irresponsible statements'', he added.

The ''misadventure'' of the opposition in trying to topple the government has led to a whooping loss of Rs 400 billion in the stock market, he alleged.

The government has taken care of national security and economy, he claimed and reiterated the BJP's stand that the Congress party, instrumental in destabilising many governments in the past, was at it again.

The executive deplored ''the recently demonstrated political opportunism to destabilise the government''. The opposition is ''nervous and frustrated'' with the government's success on the economic and security front, it said. That was the reason why it was adopting such destabilising tactics, the executive said and expressed a firm resolve to defeat such ''nefarious designs''.

On other matters, the executive condoled the deaths due to earthquake in Uttar Pradesh. It was decided that each member of Parliament of the party would contribute one month's salary towards relief and rehabilitation of the affected people.

It expressed its ''deep appreciation'' of the scientific community, ministry of defence and DRDO for the outstanding achievement of successfully test firing Agni-II missile.

With this the BJP-led coalition has fulfilled its commitment to national security, Naidu said.

The executive also complimented the Sikh Panth on the occasion of its tricentenary.

UNI

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