Ministerial berth or not, UKD to support BJP

Dehra Dun, Mar 19 (UNI) Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, which is supporting the BJP government, today refuted reports that a ministerial berth in the government was one of the conditions for its support and stressed main purpose was to ensure a stable government in the state.

''We are least interested in any ministerial berth in the government,'' UKD President B D Raturi told reporters here.

He further added that the public expected UKD to be instrumental in providing a stable government in the state. ''We could have supported Congress but since the public mendate was against it, we opted for BJP,''he said.

Meanwhile, senior UKD leader Kashi Singh Airy said it was his party's political and ehtical responsibility to support BJP for a stable government. ''Hunger for power is not in our agenda, but public issues are,'' he maintained.

Senior party leader and legislative party leader Divakar Bhatt, talking on the two main issues of his party - permanent capital at Gairsain and delimitation on the basis of area, said the party would set up seperate expert committees to review the report by Dixit Commission, which was set up in previous Congress regime, to look into the matter.

''However, we stick to our demand to shift permanent capital to Gairsain or to its surrounding areas,'' he said, refuting allegations that his party, which had been head strongly pursuing the issue since formation of the state, has compromised with the issue.

''We have not compromised with any of our conditions,'' he asserted. On proposed delimitation draft based on population, Mr Bhatt said this would adversly effect the hill people.

''It is being opposed in most parts of the country and we have already talked to BJP in this context,'' he said. He maintained that whether with the government or outside, his party would vehemently pursue the issues.

Incidently, if BJP wins the remaining Bajpur Assembly election which is due on March 25, it would need no support from UKD in the Assembly as it has already secured 34 seats in 70 member Assembly and added support from three independents.

UKD had come in support of BJP when it had fell short of one legislator to form the government previously. Key conditions put before BJP included shifting of capital to Gairsain, delimitation, statehood agitationist's welfare.

Replying to the speculation that issues of UKD might be sidelined by the BJP government, Mr Bhatt hoped it would not happen for the sake of a stable government.

UNI