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Vajpayee holds door open for Janata Dal

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Monday said the National Democratic Alliance would be strengthened if the Janata Dal joined it.

Addressing a news conference in Lucknow, he said the JD allies Lok Shakti and Samata Party had already been in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government.

Talks were going on with the leaders, he added.

The prime minister was hopeful that the Lok Sabha election would result in a clear mandate. The people were fed up with the frequent elections and wanted a government that lasts, he reasoned.

Asked how stable an alliance government would be, the prime minister said he was confident that members would not repeat the mistakes that had led to the fall of the government.

It was a mistake to have admitted the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to the alliance. Since these were the days of alliances the constituents should act with maturity, the PM said.

Asked if the NDA wasn't repeating the mistake it did with the AIADMK by admitting Sharad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan, Vajpayee said that he hoped no problems would be created this time around as past experience had made everyone wiser.

Queried if the BJP, which introduced the women's quota bill in Parliament, would give 33 per cent seats to the fair sex to contest, the prime minister said there were many practical difficulties. The party would take up this issue after the election.

When pointed out that he had expressed himself against the dissolution of the Lok Sabha before five years, he said it is the people who could ensure a five-year house.

Replying to a question, Vajpayee admitted that Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence had intensified its activities after the Kargil fiasco. But the government was alert and had taken all necessary steps, he assured.

He categorically refuted the allegation that the Pakistani intruders were given a safe passage. If that was so, the route of the intruders' return would have been decided and a cease-fire declared formally, he said.

The allegation was further disproved by the fact that the intruders laid landmines and held on to certain peaks for several days on their way back, he added.

The prime minister said the committee set up to probe the Kargil conflict would also examine the role of intelligence agencies.

UNI

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