CAFE
COM:PORT
CHAT JOCKEYS
EVENTS

The S Jaipal Reddy Chat

Kesri: You adopted a very interesting name. And you have put a very interesting question. In Andhra politics has been bipolarised between the Congress and TDP. I don't feel comfortable with either of them. To the point of being in one of those two parties. My role therefore got marginalised. Instead of struggling in vain in AP, I am trying to make my humble contribution at the national level. ABU HASSAN: If we think the national interests demand the sacrifice of Mr Deve Gowda we will not hesitate to do so. But that is not our appreciation. We will not recommend dissolution of Parliament before the vote is taken. And I don't think constitutional conventions allow any chance to be given to the Congress party at all. The Congress bid for power is totally unjustified as the Congress lost in the 1996 Lok Sabha poll. The Congress cannot be allowed to regain power by the backdoor after having lost in the people's court. Mrs Gandhi in 1979 and Mr Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 tried to go back to the people for power. And they did not try to manipulate within the frame of the Lok Sabha. Mr Kesri is trying to manipulate through MPs as he is not confident about support among the people.

Donald: Mr Moopanar is a very honourable person. Nobody in the UF is opposed to him. But it is not good to change PMs frequently. If you allow this to happen to Mr Gowda, Mr Moopanar or any other person may be subjected to the same fate. Dr Sharma: I differ from you as much as I differ from the BJP. I think we should discuss more seriously on this question to understand each other.

Mr Reddy DO YOU THINK THAT THE UNITE FRONT GOVERNMENT WILL SURIVE TOMORROW?

Mr Reddy maybe the armed forces shud finally take over, with you in charge? if colonels can do it in Algeria, wing cos are good enough too

Chaturvedi: I am not very hopeful about tomorrow. But I am an optimistic person. If the UF government falls through a vote in the Lok Sabha tomorrow, the most likely result is a snap poll which is not in the interests of the country.

What are your comments about the repetitive failures of the coalition governments in India? Do you think India can never have a stable government in future looking into the present situation?

Mr.Reddy,you people are saying that BJP is communal but we feel that YADAVS are more dangeorus who divided the country into caste based plitics and as you know UP and BIHAR are heading for desctruction .what will you say?.

What about the budget reforms proposed by Mr Chidambaram????If the Congress comes to power will the Congress follow the budget?

Chaturvedi: No CBI case was launched by the UF government against Mr Kesri. The CBI was directed by the division bench of the Delhi high court to investigate the assets of Mr Kesri on the basis of a public interest litigation. These are lame excuses given for concealing vaulting ambitions.

Mr.Reddy, Why don't U take advice from Mr.Clinton?I 'm sure that he'll be happy to help U

Kala: Kalaji, the rule by armed forces is bad everywhere, both in India and Algeria. I can assure you, I'll be worse than anybody else if I rule with the support of the armed forces. What makes a politician relatively tolerable is when he is amenable to democratic pressures. P: Long before the Yadavs began to matter in UP and Bihar, UP and Bihar had been sufficiently spoilt by our great upper caste leaders. There was very little left for the Yadavs to make a negative contribution. It should be noted UP and Bihar have been among the most maladministered states in the country.

Mr. Reddy: Why do you say elections at this juncture will not be good for India? On a philosophical level, elections are always "right" in a democracy.

Mr Reddy, do you think the Congress will split tomorrow?

Politics apart, how would you rate Deve Gowda on a scale of 1 to 10?

WHAT DO YOIU MEAN BY YOU RULE? DO YOIU HAVE AMBITIONS OF BEING THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER MR REDDY? SIR WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER

Mr Reddy, where does the country go from here?

Kalaji: Free India has had single party governments for 45 out of 50 years. But yet, the growth rates of India were very low as compared to the South East Asian nations. So you can also say that single party governments have also been failures. Stability of governments is not the only important thing. For example, in Italy, there have been 55 governments in 51 years. All of them have been coalition governments. Yet, economic growth has been nearly miraculous. The per capita income of Italy is higher than that of the UK. You must note that Deve Gowda's government in spite of being a coalition government has presented a bold and widely welcome Budget.

Reddiji,If the matter of replacement of the PM arises,will U offer it to Mr.V.P.Singh?

Mr Reddy, the UF has been blaming the Congress for what has happened. Why should you? The Congress needs to survive and there is nothing wrong in what it did? You should have worked with them -- you were willing in May 1996, so why not now? -- in one govt.

Dr Huxtable: Mr Clinton is quite busy with his own finance problems. I don't think he is capable of tendering advice to Indian politicians.

Mr Reddy, you must have had a very tiring day. It is a long night ahead. I appreciate your taking time off to speak to us tonight. It just shows that the Janata Dal- is truly the only decent party we have. God take care of you all. Good night.

MR REddy sir please tell me what will happen tomorrow---sir please tell me what do you think will happen in the parliament tomorrow? I'll be reallly grateful if you answer my question

MR REddy sir please tell me what will happen tomorrow---sir please tell me what do you think will happen in the parliament tomorrow? I'll be reallly grateful if you answer my question

Dr Reddy: Mr V P Singh was offered the office of PM in 1996. He did not then accept it because he had quit power politics. Now, of course, he can't even be offered as he is very ill. CHATURVEDI: I am not in a postion to speculate on the internal situation in the Congress party.

MR REDDY How do the members of both the party spend their time while they wait for tomorrow? Will Mr Gowda and Mr Kesri be able to sleep?

Mr Reddy, thank you for informing us of what is happening in the country. Most kind of you, Sir. Good night!

Mr Reddy, the UF has been blaming the Congress for what has happened. Why should you? The Congress needs to survive and there is nothing wrong in what it did? You should have worked with them -- you were willing in May 1996, so why not now? -- in one govt. Was ever such a proposal made?

Mr Reddy I hope you'll answer my question before I leave, and please do answer it anyway, so that I can read it once Rediff puts it up in a transcript form

Mr. Reddy newspapers are reporting that I and my party (TDP) will tie the knot with BJP. But I for one will tell you I am the true secularist. Remember the acting I did when President invited A.B.Vajpayee last May. I would have beaten my father in law for that role

Good night, Shri Reddy. May I wish you a long and wonderful political career ahead? I look forward to seeing you as foreign minister or home minister soon!

James: The Congress would be justified in seeking office once again. But only after securing a mandate from the people through an election. Even in 1996, the Congress had more members than our party, the JD. The Congress was denied the opportunity at that time because they had been defeated and rejected by the people in the election of 1996., though it had gone to the people as a ruling party. It therefore can hope to regain power only by winning a general election. The Congress party has further lost its base among the people in the last ten months. The Congress should remember that there are no shortcuts in politics.

Mr Reddy best of luck for tommorrow.

Hemlataji: I must be modest enough to confess I am as much in the dark as you on the outcome of tomorrow's test. Although I am more informed on this question, that doesn't make me any the less confused.

ello Jaipal Reddy Saheb, You know what is the opinion of people about UF: It is a pack of anti national elements and shameless power hungry individuals. Following is the Tra ck record of UF: Lalloo Prasad: Fodder Scam; Mulayam Singh: Scrapped Anti Gunda Act, Anti Copy Act after becoming the CM of UP. King of underworld in UP. I hope that he has no connection with Pakistan ISI. V.P. (Weepy Singh): Tried his best to divide the country on Caste Lines. Country has still not fully recovered from that. If mid-term polls are held today: UF is going to be the biggest sufferer: Karanataka: JD will meet its waterloo (Remember JD could not retain even Deve Gowda' Seat in By election). Bihar: It is going to suffer heavy losses. UP: Mulayam Singh would not be able to save his security deposit. AP: TDP is going to loose heavily. Congress may gain. West Bengal: CPM is going to suffer first time in last twenty years. Losses may not be heavy but it will be significant. After the elections Ther will be no UF. There will be just two parties: BJP and congress.

EVERYONE: IN THE LAST ANSWER I WANTED TO SAY: I must be modest enough to confess that I am as much in the dark as you on the outcome of tomorrw's test. ABU HASSAN: Thank you for your good wishes and kind ideas. Although I have been a parliamentarian for 27 years, I have never been a minister. I have always preferred the role of a parliamentarian, critic and commentator.

Is Deve Gowda going to resign and not face the floor or go down with all guns blazing on the floor ? Mr reddy, I know you dont have the answer but what would you prefer

Mr.Reddy, Do you feel that an individual ( Mr.Gowda!) is more important than our country. Can't you people give up YOUR BIG EGO and negotiate with Congress for the good of our nation. I feel that UF leaders do not have the right to call others as traitors if they are not willing to stand by and for the nation.

I believe post election alliances should not be recognised only pre-election alliances should. Post election alliances are a violation of the peoples mandate. It encourages power brokering. Situations such as the present crisis can be avoided. Your comments Sir ..

Kalaji: I was only giving a hypothetical answer. I don't have immodest ambitions. CONCERNED CITIZEN: You seem to be suffering from many oversimplified preconceptions. Your views are generally shared in India by upper caste fanatics. I hope you are not one. I am amazed that your exposure to the West has not made you a liberal. The only person you avoided is Phoolan Devi. You had better see the film Bandit Queen and get enlightened about the implications of belonging to a lower caste in the Indian social structure.

Mr.Reddy, What is your reaction to my comment? Can I expect your comments??

Prabhu: Thank you for your very god wishes. We are indeed in need of your good wishes. EVERYBODY: Since I am awfully busy with all these developments, I would like to take leave of you and hope to interact with all of you some day at pleasure. That will be an exercise in mutual understanding.