Ramdas lashes out at Vasundhara Raje's detractors

Jaipur, June 21 (UNI) BJP treasurer and MP Ramdas Agrawal has defended Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's leadership and deplored a group of ruling party leaders for unduly raking up the issue of change of guard when the Government and the BJP leadership were busy restoring peace in the Gujjar agitation-hit state.

Talking to UNI here Mr Agrawal said every political leader and activist did have their aspirations and ambitions for which they worked but every one was expected to abide by ethics and sanctity of their means.

Mr Agrawal, who had also held the post of party state president for long, said, ''It was highly unethical and inhuman that when Rajasthan was badly hit by the Gujjar agitation, the Chief Minister, the state government machinery and the party leadership were busy in controlling situation and restoring peace and harmony, a group of prominent people, including senior BJP leaders and ministers were trying to create problems for Ms Raje by raking up the issue of change of the leadership in the government.'' He said at a time when several districts of state were witnessing violence, arson and unrest these leaders were working to realise their narrow personal ambitions.

Mr Agrawal said he did not want to make unnecessary comments on ''factionalism and dissidents' activities'' in the ruling BJP and the government. However, he would like to appeal to all to shun differences and work unitedly for the party, he added.

He said all BJP ranks and files, including ''dissidents'' and ''estranged leaders'' should work unitedly to draw a strategy to ensure that the party succeeds in retaining the power in the next assembly election due to be held by end of 2008.

Mr Agrawal said BJP leaders and workers should practice open and transparent politics upholding the party ideology and policies.

He counselled ''dissidents'' not to make vieled attacks on their own state government, rather abide by ethics and principles of the BJP.

He also advised certain members of council of ministers to maintain self restrain and instead of making provocating utterances laud the achievements of the government.

UNI