Akalis defer decision on support

The working committee of the party deliberated the issue for about three hours and decided to meet again after the Delhi talks.

The party delegation to Vajpayee would comprise Chief Minister and Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal, senior leader and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Union Minister Surjit Singh Barnala.

The memorandum earlier submitted by Tohra to the Prime Minister would also be taken up at the meeting. Vajpayee had a long telephonic talk with Tohra yesterday on the demands listed in the memorandum which was againfaxed to the PMO.

The working committee passed a resolution lauding the leadership of Badal.

Addressing a crowded news conference after the meeting, Badal said, 8220;The wishes of the majority of the people in Udham Singh Nagar should be honoured as they are opposed to the transfer of the district to the proposed hill state of Uttaranchal8221;. He pointed out that majority of the Panchayats and local bodies had passed resolutions opposing the transfer.

He made it clear that there was no change in the stand of the Akali Dal and the party would stick to the earlier decision taken by the political affairs committee of withdrawing the two ministers in case the BJP went ahead with the transfer. At the same time, he said, 8220;We are going with an open mind but there would be no bargaining8221;, he said.

Tohra, who was also present at the news conference, said, 8220;One should be hopeful8221;.

However, the SGPC chief, who has hardened his attitude towards the BJP, was categoric that the party should take the decisionbefore the forthcoming Assembly elections in four states.

Badal pointed to the statement of UP Chief Minister Kalyan Singh that he would not have any objections in case the BJP high command sorted out the irritant with the Akali Dal.

On supporting BJP in the forthcoming Assembly elections and sharing of seats, Tohra said the Udham Singh Nagar issue would have to be resolved first.

Badal said the sharing of seats had not been taken up by the Akali Dal with the BJP. One section within the party is in favour of sharing of seats in Delhi and Rajasthan to enlarge the base of the Akali Dal while another section is of the opinion it would not held under the situation.

The Akali leaders said the Congress in Punjab had been exposed with the UP Congress voting in favour of the resolution in the Assembly supporting the transfer of Udham Singh Nagar to Uttaranchal.

The meeting also discussed the organisational affairs. Some members criticised the functioning of bureaucracy.