BJP ire over Mukhi's 'failure'

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, APRIL. 5. Serious differences have arisen within the BJP Legislature Party and the senior Delhi leaders over the party's failure to corner the Sheila Dikshit Government inside and outside the House. While the city was gripped by the CNG crisis, neither the party nor its MLAs thought it fit to protest and put the ruling Congress(I) in the dock.

In fact, the events during the last one week has further widened the gulf among senior leaders. The BJP legislature party also stands equally divided with demands for removal of Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, as the Leader of the Opposition. Prof. Mukhi is seen to be soft on the Sheila Dikshit Government and there is a general feeling that he was playing the role of ``loyal Opposition'' to perfection. In fact, the Congress(I) member, Mr. Arvinder Singh Lovely, stated that the no-confidence move was brought by Prof. Mukhi under pressure from the party high command and to save his position.

Prof. Mukhi has time and again been taunted by the Congress(I) MLAs in the House for occupying government accommodation despite being served notice for eviction. But Prof. Mukhi remains unshaken and refused to vacate the government house. ``Any person who is reminded everyday that he is at the mercy of the government would have immediately left the accommodation,'' a senior MLA remarked.

The performance of Prof. Mukhi on the no-confidence motion was also lacklusture. He produced a copy of Tehelka portal script to substantiate his allegations of corruption in CNG bus purchase. This was the same Telehka which was not only ridiculed by the entire BJP leadership but also by Prof. Mukhi a few days ago.

Also, Prof. Mukhi touched on the regular issues of shortage of power, water and clogging of sewer system, but failed to take the government to task on mishandling of the CNG issue. He harped on corruption in purchase of CNG buses instead of castigating the Government for creating a crisis. Strange it may seem, but Prof. Mukhi and some of his colleagues were found missing from the House from time to time during the no-confidence motion.

It is no secret that many MLAs including the Chief Whip, Mr. Nand Kishore Garg, former Ministers, Dr. Harsvardhan and Mr. Harsharan Singh Balli do not see eye to eye with Prof. Mukhi. The differences among the BJP MLAs also came to the fore in the House. When the Speaker, Chaudhary Prem Singh, asked Mr. Garg to speak on the no-confidence motion, the party MLA, Mr.Sahib Singh Chauhan, stood up and protested that it was his turn to speak giving an indication of the sharp conflict within the party.

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