Venkaiah to stop sops to kins in BJP

| 09 August 2002 21:16 IST

Though he refuses to admit that petroleum minister Ram Naik is involved in petrol pump allotment issue, Bharatiya Janata Party Venkaiah Naidu says his party is evolving a system where people in high places will not seek appointment of or concession for their family members.

"There is no need to have an agreement on this. Once party decides, everybody has to follow the system", said Naidu while talking to journalists after his arrival here as a part of his countrywide tour to visit all the state units.

According to him, even if such appointments are made or concessions are given on merit, it should be avoided since it gives scope to 'misunderstanding'.

Dubbing the opposition demand of resignations of Naik as well as prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as absurd, Naidu also claims that the petroleum minister has brought more transparency in the ministry while improving upon the wrong system the Congress had laid down all these years.

He dismisses the allegation that the prime minister cancelled all the petrol pump allotments because there was favouritism. "Such actions indicate that this is the government with a difference. They have committed no sin, why should they resign", he asked.

On the contrary, Naidu felt that people of the country will lose confidence in the opposition as their action of stalling the Parliament sittings is a clear indication that they are running away from having a debate on the floor.

According to him, the Congress is more upset because Naik replaced all the political appointees of the Congress on the respective committees and appointed non-political persons like judges. He also did not agree that the issue will have adverse impact on the Gujarat elections.

Naidu also disclosed that former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel will head the campaign committee of Gujarat polls, while denying the charge that Patel is not co-operating with the party.

While commenting on Shankarsingh Vaghela's appointment as the state Congress president, Naidu said he is happy that the Congress has chosen a RSS man as their president. "I wish them best of luck", he said.

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