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4 BJP MPs come out in Khurana's support

Four Bharatiya Janata Party MPs from Bihar have supported the issues raised by former Union minister Madan Lal Khurana, saying that his step was in the interest of the party and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government but the case was mishandled.

In a letter written to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee yesterday, they pointed out that the party did not give due attention to the matter. Instead it forced Khurana to resign from the Cabinet and the national executive. "We feel it was the result of mishandling."

The MPs -- Janardhan Yadav (from the Rajya Sabha), Madan Prasad Jaiswal, P S Gadhavi and Lal Muni Chobey (all from the Lok Sabha) -- said reports carried by newspapers on the Bangalore national executive meeting had indicated that many leaders shared Khurana's concern.

"Even in your own speech, you (the prime minister) touched the issues which Khurana wanted to raise," they pointed out.

In the letter, which was made available to the media by Yadav today, they categorically stated that they fully supported the issues raised by Khurana and sought an appointment with the prime minister.

Talking to the media, Yadav said that Khurana's resignation had shaken the whole country.

Describing Khurana's resignation as a "daring and historical step" to strengthen the party and the government and to bring about improvement in their style of functioning, Yadav said: "Shri Khurana has become a symbol of the voice of all dedicated workers of the BJP because of his hard step. We show our solidarity with Shri Khurana inside as well as outside Parliament.''

UNI

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