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Devsagar Singh
New Delhi, Aug 16: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said on Monday that a broad national consensus was necessary on the contentious Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) before taking any decision in the matter.
Addressing a press conference after releasing the election manifesto of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Prime Minister said the Opposition parties would be taken into confidence. In any case, the decision would have to be taken only after the elections, he added.
Asked how he proposed to solve the Kashmir issue with Pakistan when there was no meeting ground considering Islamabad's rigid stand, Vajpayee said a meeting ground would have to be found. He said efforts in that direction were necessary. He , however, did not elaborate.
Seeking to justify NDA, the Prime Minister said it was the only way to ensure stability of governance in the country. Replying to a question, he said his 13-month old rule had demonstrated that stability was possible. "We would ensure that," headded.
Vajpayee replied to a host of questions relating to Janata Dal (U) entry into NDA, minorities, moratorium on contentious issueslike Ayodhya and article 370, Prasar Bharati and Bofors, among others.
He was, however, hard put to respond to a query as to whether the reunified Janata family would get entry into NDA. "We are discussing the matter and a solution would be found soon," he said, without elaborating.
In what capacity, then, was George Fernandes participating in the NDA manifesto release function? asked a questioner. Even as the Prime Minister fumbled, I&B minister Pramoad Mahajan, who was conducting the press conference, intervened to say that Fernandes was doing so in the capacity of convenor of the NDA. Fernandes did not speak.
A similar query on J&K chief minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah caught the PM off guard. A questioner sought to know how Abdullah was sitting along with NDA leaders when his NC was fighting against the BJP candidates in Jammu. A visiblyembarrassed PM said the NC leader was supporting the NDA from outside. Interestingly, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee was not present.
Asked as to why the Bofors issue was dragging despite promises of prompt action, the Prime Minister said the last set of papers were yet to arrive. He suggested that once these papers were available, the government would go ahead with appropriate action. Vajpayee declined to name the Congress leader who, in his opinion, was his rival prime ministerial candidate. "This is for you to judge," he said, making light of the question.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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