Fernandes' loyalists to 'revive' Samata parting ways with JD(U)

New Delhi, Jan 12 (UNI) In what is seen as an attempt to 'revive' Samata party severing its ties with Janata Dal (United), supporters of NDA Convenor and former defence minister George Fernandes are meeting here on January 21 to create a machinery to grapple corruption and to fight to uphold the cause of the farmers and the voiceless in the society.

The conference to take place here is expected to be attended by over 3000 delegates from the states of Bihar and Jharkhand, the fortress of the JD(U) and key states where the party has substantial base, Mr Shivkumar, a Fernandes loyalist and JD(U) General Secretary told UNI.

Mr Kumar regretted that the party was unable to put forth its beliefs and ideals before the country and the Parliament on numerous issues, be its views on Indo-US nuclear deal, farmers committing suicides while the prices were reaching the sky under the three-year-old UPA regime. The Government, he alleged, had been able to get many of the known culprits off the hook including Ottavio Quattrocchi, who walked away with the Bofors money stashed in his London bank accounts.

The JD(U) was being run like a 'personal fiefdom' after the organisational elections in April last year, forgetting the objective of the creation of Samata Party -- liberate Bihar from the 'corrupt RJD regime' under Lalu Prasad. "The party was simply bereft of internal democracy and was unable to put forth its views on number of issues in Parliament when other parties were able to do it effectively because of tacit undeclared understanding with the Congress", Mr Kumar alleged.

Asked if the convention was opposed to Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar, Mr Kumar pointed to Mr Fernandes statement in October which hinted at corruption rising 'ten folds' under the new regime. "That is the truth. People of Bihar agree with him," he remarked.

He, however, chose to remain silent about the role of the BJP and the NDA, where Mr Fernandes happens to be the Convenor. "We have expressed our views about the way JD(U) has functioned and don't propose to speak about the conduct of BJP or other parties as they have their own ways of functioning," he remarked.

He said those attending the January 21 convention were socially ackowledged persons who had a role in making Samata party relevant organisation in its fight against the establishment. Such a collective thinking was a necessity since the JD(U) was a 'directionless' organisation and majority of the participants are from Bihar and Jharkhand and important leaders of the Janata Dal pariwar from the states of Asom, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Samata Party President and former MP Brahmandand Mandal and Rajya Sabha MP Vashisht Narain Singh are the 'hosts' of the convention. Asked if Mr Fernandes would take part, he remarked, "he is our leader and we expect his blessings for our effort," he said.

UNI