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BJP won't stake claim to form govt in Haryana: Thakre

Shireen in Hyderabad

BJP President Kushabhau Thakre today said his party would not stake claim to form an alternative government in Haryana. He was speaking to reporters in Hyderabad.

Yesterday, the 11-member BJP unit in Haryana Assembly withdrew support to the Bansi Lal government bringing it into minority.

When asked whether the BJP would support Om Prakash Chautala if he staked claim to form the government, Thakre said that the party's state unit would take appropriate decision.

He also parried a question about why the party suddenly decided to break its alliance with Bansilal's Haryana Vikas Party. Thakre said it was a local issue.

About the party's proposed alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Thakre said there was no need to rush into negotiations. ''There is no urgency now. There is lot of time to discuss these issues.''

Thakre said for both the BJP and the TDP the common enemy is Congress. ''Our goal is to defeat the Congress. Whether we should have seat adjustments for this will be decided (before the polls)," he said.

Referring to the Kargil conflict, he said: "The BJP government is taking every step to drive out the infiltrators. We will not allow a single inch of our land to be occupied by Pakistan. Our operations in Kargil against the Pakistan-backed infiltrators have been appreciated by all the countries. Even the Muslim countries have supported India on this issue."

The BJP chief squarely blamed the Congress for the present situation in Kashmir. "Two-thirds of Kashmir was occupied by Pakistan during the Congress regime," he said and lashed out at the Congress for the rise of ''militancy and cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir."

Replying to a query, Thakre said that there was no need to convene a special session of the Rajya Sabha to discuss Kargil. ''There is no such precedent (for convening the session)."

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