AGP joins NDA, may get berth at Centre

NEW DELHI, April 9: The ruling AGP is likely to get a berth at the NDA Council of Ministers in the wake of the regional party formally joining the NDA fold. A hint to this affect was given by the Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani. The BJP State unit may not be too happy about the alliance but the Union Home Minister today appeared very pleased with the development saying that though the AGP has joined the NDA alliance only today, it has been cooperating with the Centre for last three years. Earlier, welcoming the AGP into the NDA fold, the Union Home Minister today left no one in doubt that the illegal infiltration is going to be their major election plank in the polls. Referring to the IMDT Act, Advani said, "till some time back we were the only Government which expressed the view that there should be one law to check illegal infiltration, that is the Foreigners Act. In Assam we have a special Act, the IMDT Act, which is discriminatory as it prevents dealing with infiltration", he contended, thanking the Assam Government also for taking such a bold stand. Meanwhile, though Advani declined to spell out the Centre's plan, he did not rule that AGP would be given a berth in the NDA. But BJP sources said it is a matter of time that AGP would have a representation in the Vajpayee's Council of Ministers. The AGP has two members in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Kumar Sarma and Joyashree Goswami Mahanta. Advani said even though the AGP has not been with the NDA, they have been perfectly coordinating and cooperating with the NDA Government at the Centre. "This has enabled us to jointly fight insurgency and launch economic developmental schemes", he added. He also mentioned about the two-pronged strategy adopted by the Centre saying while it has been promoting a economic development, it has also been dealing with violence firmly. He also praised the AGP Government for adopting a tough stand on militancy asserting that the state government has been able to erode the support base of the militants in the rural areas. The state government's action left the militants with no choice but to quit Assam and take shelter in neighbouring countries, he held, adding that there has been instances of even unarmed villagers attacking militants. The Union Home Minister also mentioned about the ongoing negotiations with the BLT saying that after the polls talks would again be pursued. The signing of the joint statement indicates that progress has been made in certain aspects, while a few remained to be clinched, he added. Advani also mentioned that the BJP was the lone national party to support the Assam agitation. AGP is a product of the Assam movement, in support of which the BJP had been campaigning, he added.