Expose causes ripples throughout the country

Expose causes ripples throughout the country
ENS & AGENCIES

NEW DELHI, MARCH 14: The Tehelka expose resounded throughout the country today, with work in most state Assemblies disrupted as Congress and parties not part of the National Democratic Alliance baying for the blood of political leaders caught in the political storm.

However, the Telugu Desam Party, which is part of the NDA, demanded an independent inquiry into the charges against BJP leader Bangaru Laxman and others accused of graft and made it clear that all those involved in the matter needed to come clean to clear the doubts. Approached by mediapersons, TDP president and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said: ``Whatever has happened in Delhi should not have happened. There is a need for an independent inquiry to clear all doubts against those who are facing charges.''

While another ally and DMK chief M. Karunanidhi maintained that the controversy would not affect the prospects of the NDA in the ensuing Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, his bete noire J. Jayalalitha didn't pass up another opportunity to vent her ire on the NDA and DMK.

``We have full confidence on Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and Union Home Minister L.K. Advani that they would definitely take proper action if anyone had committed wrong as alleged,'' Karunanidhi said. AIADMK chief Jayalalitha, however, said Karunanidhi with trying to ``hoodwink people'' by saying he was launching a crusade against corruption and described it as ``nothing but baloney''.

On his part, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya called for an immediate alignment of all secular forces with the third front. ``Now that the corruption of the NDA government, particularly its leaders, has come to light, we feel that there is no other alternative, but to bring together all secular forces in the third Front at this moment,'' he told mediapersons in Kolkata.

Work in both Houses of the Maharashtra Legislature was disrupted after ruling Democratic Front members created a pandemonium over the expose.

In the Legislative Council, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who was in an aggressive mood, shouted: ``BJP teri Ram kahani, laxman kare beimani (BJP your Ram tale has been spoiled by Laxman),'' even as the treasury bench members stormed into the well of the House, making it impossible for the chairman to transact business during question hour, and forcing an adjournment. The story was repeated in the Chhattisgarh Assembly with the ruling Congress trying to table an official resolution condemning the NDA and being vehemently opposed by the BJP. Its members stormed to the well of the House and retaliated with bringing up the charges being faced by Congress leaders over the Bofors issue. The Bihar and Karnataka Houses too witnessed uproarious scenes.

The one bit of consolation for the NDA was from the National Conference which pledged full support to the alliance, saying the government's prompt action of suspending some Army and senior officials was ``a show of its commitment to weed out corruption completely''.

Dismissing the Opposition demand that the government should resign, Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Omar Abdullah said: ``There was no need for anyone to resign as the prompt action in suspending of corrupt officials is in itself indicative of the Centre's commitment for a corruption-free government.''