BJP ready for new ties

CHENNAI, SEPT 16: Prime Minister A B Vajpayee today gave strong hints that the DMK's support to the BJP-led government at the Centre was ...

CHENNAI, SEPT 16: Prime Minister A B Vajpayee today gave strong hints that the DMK8217;s support to the BJP-led government at the Centre was most welcome, declaring, 8220;We are ready to accept support from all quarters and any quarters.8221;

At a media conference in the city today, the prime minister responding to a query on whether the BJP would accept the DMK8217;s support, remarked: 8220;We won8217;t say no to support from any quarters.8221; However, he hastened to add that the BJP had not held parleys with the DMK on the issue.

But he did indicate that he had discussed politics with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi when the latter called on him yesterday. Vajpayee said that he had asked the DMK chief about his recent observation that the DMK would support the BJP if the latter proved its secular bonafide. 8220;I raised the issue with him. I beg to differ with him that the BJP is not secular. We are a secular party. We need no certificate from any party,8221; the prime minister said.

Asked to elaborate on his remarks atthe MDMK rally yesterday that the rally marked a new dimension to Tamil Nadu politics, the prime minister shot back: 8220;I said what I wanted to. It is for you to draw your conclusions.8221;

Any query about AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha, Vajpayee either genially laughed off or parried them with his characteristic witty one-liners. Will Jayalalitha be a dependable ally? 8220;Only future will tell,8221; he replied crisply.

Are you happy with Jayalalitha8217;s approach? Not willing to commit himself, the prime minister merely laughed. Is Jayalalitha scheduled to meet him? 8220;No proposal,8221; pat came the reply.

When a questioner sought to know how Vajpayee managed the art of getting support from different parties in particular reference to DMK and AIADMK, the prime minister jocularly remarked: 8220;That requires investigative journalism.8221;

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On how he coped with the pressures from his allies particularly in the context of his own observations that they lacked coalition culture, Vajpayee pointed out that he was already 8220;copingwith it8221;.

Vajpayee said that the coordination committee of the ruling coalition to iron out differences within the coalition would be convened in New Delhi soon after his return from the foreign trip. However, he said no date had been fixed for the meeting.

Asked about Jayalalitha8217;s bitter criticism of the Cauvery accord, the prime minister dodging a direct reply to his ally8217;s harangue merely reassured that the interests of the people of Tamil Nadu have been fully safeguarded. Vajpayee also said that the first meeting of the Cauvery Authority comprising the chief ministers of the four riparian states and headed by him, would soon be convened. The Tamil Nadu government has called a meeting of the Authority in the wake of Karnataka failing to release the full quota of water prescribed by the Cauvery Tribunal in its interim order for the month of August.

Asked if the BJP-led government had struck a deal with the Congress on the Bofors issue, the prime minister retorted: 8220;How do you say? Do you havesecret information?8221; He asserted that enquiries into the multi-crore Bofors gun deal were being conducted vigorously8217;.