Wary BJP puts off rally in Laloo’s territory

But the BJP-led Government’s failed attempt to dislodge the Rabri Devi Government in Bihar seems to have forced the party’s State unit to reconsider its decision. Wary of the possibility that the entire affair might cast a shadow on the proposed rally, it decided to put it off for a later date.

It was, instead, decided to hold the KVIC programme this morning at the Prime Minister’s office at 7, Race Course Road. Addressing the programme, KVIC chairmanMahesh Sharma indicated that Vajpayee’s visit to Ranchi to launch the IREGP could not materialise because of the “Durga Puja hangover and also because of the atmosphere prevailing at Patna”.

Vajpayee, it is learnt, will now visit Bihar later this year to kick off the BJP’s political battle against Laloo Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal. It is now certain that the Union Cabinet will not retender to President K R Narayanan its recommendation to dismiss the Rabri Devi Government in the State.

Not only does the coalition government, sources in the BJP said, want to avoid a confrontation with the Rashtrapati Bhawan, it also realises that, having once taken a decision against going back to the President with its recommendation, it will have to draft a new resolution for imposing Article 356 in Bihar.

The BJP-Samata combine, instead, would concentrate its energies on fighting Laloo politically. Statements made by various leaders in the last couple of days, BJP sources said, was specifically directed atits cadre in Bihar so as to lift their morale.

Separate ministry for jobs: Vajpayee

Prime Minister A B Vajpayee today ruled out the creation of a separate ministry for employment generation, saying the proposal was beset with certain difficulties.

“My worry is such a ministry, when it comes into being, would end up curtailing employment opportunities rather than creating them,” Vajpayee pointed out while kicking off the `Intensive Rural Employment Generation Programme’ sponsored by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.

Observing that unemployment was the biggest problem faced by the country, he said that new employment opportunities could be created not in the government sector, but in the private sector. “Even in this area, the rural, small scale industries segment coupled with the services sector could play a big role,” he pointed out.

He also assured the participants that the KVIC would be separated from the Ministry of Industries. “The KVIC is just a small part of theMinistry’s small-scale industries department. This position needs to be reviewed,” Vajpayee pointed out.