We are and would be with UPA, no differences: Paswan

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/95085

NI Wire

New Delhi

Fri, 08 May 2009: 

Setting aside all media speculations that the Union Cabinet meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday could be a litmus test for Congress and its allies RJD and LJP political friendship, LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan said that there was no truth in such speculations and LJP would remain with the Congress-d United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

“I am with UPA. LJP and RJD are with UPA, and will remain with UPA,” Paswan clarified explaining why he was skipping Cabinet meeting today.

“I have not skipped the meeting. I have to leave it because a previous meeting was fixed in Kolkata.”

Before his clarification, it was being believed that both RJD chief and Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, and LJP chief and Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, who are fighting together elections in Bihar and Jharkhand, might skip the Cabinet meeting.

Both leaders were said to be upset over the praiseworthy remarks expressed by AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi for JD-U leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the political opponent of Lalu and Paswan, and the statements against them passed by some of the Congress leaders.

Refuting differences with Congress, Paswan said there is no basis of the story that he and Lalu were miffed over Rahul Gandhi’s overtures towards Nitish Kumar as Congress has already clarified what Rahul wanted to say; and the reality was that Nitish Kumar was with the BJP-Led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Also, one of the reasons of such speculation was a rift between Congress and RJD-LJP that went to lowest ebb amid allegations and counter-allegations with the elections progressing.

Earlier in the day, Congress spokesperson Veerappa Moily said that it was the Congress which should be angry with its Bihar allies — Lalu and Paswan instead of the latter. He said it was Lalu who had insulted a national party like Congress by merely leaving only 3 out of 40 seats in Bihar after deciding unilateral seat sharing with Paswan.