Stick to NDA agenda, PM to party MPs

The MPs should not indulge in any activity which can offend the NDA leaders, PM reportedly said referring to strong objection raised by the DMK and MDMK leaders to Yogi’s two bills on Common Civil Code and cow slaughter prevention.

The move came under sharp attack from the entire Opposition for alleged attempt to impose BJP’s “hidden agenda” through the backdoor.

Vajpayee told MPs to consult not only the BJP leaders but those of NDA partners as well. Efforts should be made to evolve consensus among all NDA constituents through discussionbefore moving a private member’s Bill, he said.

The Prime Minister told MPs to ensure that the issues on which they wanted to legislate should be “within the framework of the NDA”, party spokesman Venkaiah Naidu told reporters.

The Prime Minister said his government was following the NDA agenda which was an “open agenda” and had nothing “hidden” about it.

Rattled by Backward Caste BJP MPs who reportedly signed a memorandum on Monday demanding 27 per cent reservation for Backward Castes within the 33 per cent quota being granted to women, Home Minister L K Advani cautioned members against signing memoranda without going through it carefully to ensure that it was in accordance with the party line.He also asked members not to accept hospitality from private parties.

Vajpayee said as the financial position of many states was in doldrums, the Centre will introduce fiscal discipline during the budget session of Parliament. He, however, added that even while taking hard decisions, interest of thecommon man will be taken care of.

Responding to members’ query regarding formation of new States, Vajpayee said the concerned States have been advised to summon special sessions of their Assemblies to respond to the President’s recommendation’ in this regard.

Advani informed the meeting that the Cabinet had already approved the formation of Vananchal, Uttaranchal and Chhattisgarh states. The decision had been forwarded to the President. In turn, the President has recommended to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh governments to get the decision ratified by their respective Assemblies.

The Prime Minister said his government was moving in the right direction on economic policy. That is the reason why the main Opposition in Parliament the Congres had extended support in the Rajya Sabha, he added.

Earlier, Vajpayee cautioned the people to be prepared to face hard decisions and fiscal and financial discipline in the coming days. He cited the Congress’s example which had promised free power to thepeople of Andhra Pradesh, if elected to office, but it still lost the elections.

In a view to increase coordination between the party and the Government, he asked members to inform people about the various welfare measures taken by the government.