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Journalism of Courage
BJP chief K. Jana Krishnamurthi has no intention of obliging BJP leaders who are seeking to replace him in the name of youth and dynamism.
Krishnamurthi described here today reports to the effect that he had written to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister expressing a wish to step down as ‘‘kite-flying’’.
‘‘Who wrote the letters? Who delivered them?’’ he asked angrily. ‘‘There must be a limit to speculation,’’ he said.
He felt that there was an attempt to keep the controversy alive. ‘‘This is the last time I am answering questions on the matter. I will not answer them hereafter.’’
He pointed out that he had not sought party presidency, but had been persuaded to accept it by Vajpayee, Advani and the national executive. ‘‘Anyone who wants my chair should come to me after getting their endorsement.’’
When pointed out that it all started with Advani’s announcement at Panaji on April 13 that some of his ‘‘colleagues in the government’’ would be inducted in to party work, while some party leaders would come to the government, Krishnamurthi said that he did not dispute it.
However, nothing had subsequently happened to fuel this speculation. Neither had anyone got out of the government, nor had anybody given up a party post.
Krishnamurthi got agitated when a journalist sought to know if the recent appointments of zonal chiefs had the concurrence of Vajpayee and Advani. ‘‘Have they objected to what I have done? Why is the press interested in knowing how do I do my work?’’
As for the co-ordination between the government and the party, he said, ‘‘How are you bothered, whether or not they work at tandem with each other?’’
