ELECTIONS '98 COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

No going back on promise on new states, says Congress

The Congress said today it would not go back on the promise, like the Bharatiya Janata Party did, to form separate states of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and would ensure the same when it would be in a position to do so.

Congress spokesperson Ajit Jogi said the BJP was never serious in forming these new states and their promises were only a gimmick to win votes in the respective areas. Now the people have also realised this, he said.

Even though the Congress was not in power at the Centre now, it would use all democratic means to get the statehood question implemented as promised in the party's manifesto, Jogi said.

Replying to a question, he reiterated the party's stand that it would not bring in a no-confidence motion against the Vajpayee government during the current session of Parliament. If any friendly parties brought in such a motion, the Congress would decide its strategy at the appropriate time, he said.

Answering a question, Jogi said the Congress would react to the insurance bill when the government formulated it. The Congress has supported this in its election manifesto, but its reaction would depend on the bill to be brought about by the government.

On the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, he reiterated the party's stand that it was against signing it in the present form. It would react when the government formulated its policy on this issue, he said.

He said the election of the Congress legislature party leaders in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi were smooth. The leaders were elected in accordance with the unanimous wish and will of the elected members and nobody was imposed from anywhere, he said.

UNI

Assembly Election '98

Tell us what you think of this report