Vaghela back in action

AHMEDABAD, June 16: Rashtriya Janata Party Supremo Shankersingh Vaghela is trying out a seemingly impossible task, which even the Messiah o...

AHMEDABAD, June 16: Rashtriya Janata Party Supremo Shankersingh Vaghela is trying out a seemingly impossible task, which even the Messiah of Dalits8217; V P Singh failed to realise. He is making all-out efforts to form a non-BJP front of all secular parties.

Vaghela is leaving for Delhi on June 24 for three days and meet intellectuals and media personalities to work out the modalities of the front. Again, he will leave Ahmedabad on July 12 for an eight-day trip to Delhi and take recourse to dinner diplomacy to persuade Mulayam Singh Yadav, Laloo Prasad Yadav, Sharad Yadav, Mayavati, Kanshi Ram, among others, to sink differences and join hands to make the dream of Non-BJP front a reality.

The irrepressible Vaghela revealed his plans at a Press conference here today. The meet seemed to be part of the crafty leader8217;s long-term political gameplan, for he released a black paper on the the 8220;malfunctioning8221; of the BJP Government on its 100 th day in office.

What provided him the much-needed stick to rap the government with was the cyclone. Attributing the mounting toll to the criminal negligence on the part of the State Government, Vaghela said so many precious lives could have been saved but for the timely measures taken by the government.

8220;It is singularly unfortunate that now the government is not only hiding the numbers of the dead but trying to shift the blame on Kandla Port Trust for the tragedy8221;, RJP chief said. He also dubbed as a mere ploy to hook the innocent, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel8217;s recent decision on an inquiry into the handling of the situation.

The alleged mishandling by the government, coupled with the inability to substantiate allegations State BJP leaders made against Vaghela and his government has sent his confidence levels soaring high. So much so that he is no longer a subdued Vaghela who would avoid any criticism of his-bete noir 8211; the BJP 8211; after his party was routed in the February elections, but a politician again ready to take on the saffron forces.

And the number of programmes he announced indicate Vaghela means business. He will sit on a three-day fast from June 29 in front of the State Assembly to mount pressure on the government to prove the charges of corruption made against him.

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On August 20, the RJP plans a 8220;massive8221; meeting in Ahmedabad to be attended by 8220;lakhs of people8221;, followed by week-long programmes with 100 public meetings at a number of places to 8220;expose the government8217;s failure8221; during the last 100 days.

Lashing out at the BJP Government at the Centre, Vaghela said, 8220;While no action is being taken against the Keshubhai Patel Government for its abject failure in handling the cyclone situation, the Centre is unnecessarily preparing grounds to dismiss the Bihar and Tamil Nadu governments for no rhyme and reason.8221;

Vaghela, however, warned that the Centre would not be spared for discriminatory approach and demanded either dismissal or resignation of the State BJP Government on the ground of its mishandling of the cyclone situation.