NAGPUR, May 23: In a significant development, CPI secretary general A B Bardhan, yesterday blasted Janata Dal president and Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, for refusing to resign and working president Sharad Yadav for opposing the Women's Reservation Bill.

The veteran Leftist leader reiterated his demand that Laloo, facing charges in the fodder scam, should tender resignation. In case he refuses to step down even after filing of a CBI charge-sheet, then the CPI would definitely raise the issue in the steering committee of United Front, he told a press conference.

Bardhan said the Bihar Governor should grant sanction to CBI to prosecute Laloo and other ministers facing charges. It is in his interest that Laloo should resign before the charge-sheet is filed and uphold the high moral values. The CPI is firm on its demand and would raise the issue at the highest forum in the United Front, he added.

He also did not spare Laloo for claiming to be the `kingmaker' in the election of the Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral. Leaders of 13 parties put their heads together and helped Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in reaching a consensus. Laloo himself was among the aspirants and so the question of his playing the role of kingmaker does not arise at all, he said.

He was severe on JD working president Sharad Yadav, who defied UF steering committee decision and opposed introduction of the Bill providing reservations to women in State legislatures and Parliament. Yadav is making misleading statements on this issue, Bardhan alleged. Another argument by Sharad Yadav and a section of JD leaders that the provisions in the Bill are against the principles of social justice also attracted sharp reaction from the veteran leader.

Emphatically stating that empowerment of women is considered a major part of the fight for social equality, Bardhan said Yadav and his supporters were totally wrong in claiming to be the only crusaders of social justice. He hit out at those demanding provisions for reservations on caste considerations in Women's Bill.

There are 163 Lok Sabha members belonging to the OBCs, who do not have any reservation facilities. Hence there is no substance in the argument that only upper caste women will get elected in case reservation Bill is passed, he said.

He informed that the CPI would register its strong opposition to any move to hike the prices of petroleum products. Bardhan was in the city to address a convention organised to protest privatisation of power sector.

Meanwhile, the Union Minister for Human Resources and Development, S R Bommai, had a tough time here today explaining the UF stand on the Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav's resignation over fodder scam issue.

Refusing to elaborate party's stand on the issue, he said the Janata Dal would take a decision if the prosecution actually began against the Janata Dal president.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.