BJP deputes Anant, Munde for Rajasthan

New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) The BJP central leadership today deputed two senior leaders, former Union Minister Ananth Kumar and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde to help Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in talks with Gujjar leaders on ending the violence in the state.

Mr Kumar and Mr Munde were already in Jaipur and participating in the talks being held by Mrs Raje with Gujjar leaders since 1430 hours over their demand for the inclusion of their community in the ST list, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Claiming that the situation in the state had significantly improved today with no untoward incident taking place, Mr Prasad said the national highways had been cleared and people stuck at Balaji Temple on Jaipur-Agra road were also being evacuated.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Jaswant Singh with whom Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held a meeting to discuss Rajasthan situation later went to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence to brief him about the talks. Party President Rajnath Singh was also present. The leaders later reviewed the political situation, Mr Prasad added.

He said all efforts were being made by the Rajasthan Government and the BJP to restore normalcy in the state after the violence that has claimed 24 lives.

The party, meanwhile, took strong exception to the comment by Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal that the Rajasthan Government had failed in handling the situation properly.

"Mr Jaiswal should learn from his seniors how to conduct himself and he should have not made such a comment," Mr Prasad said.

UNI