PM confident of proving strength

Sandesh Prabhudesai
14 April 2002  

Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said he will prove his strength, if required, when asked when his government has come under threat.

While talking to journalists after laying the foundation of the new secretariat complex in Goa, Vajpayee confirmed that the Telugu Desam Party, one of the major allies of the ruling NDA, has expressed their desire to withdraw support as a last resort.

However, he also said that talks are still on in this regard with the TDP.

The TDP is bent upon removal of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and have opposed the decision of the BJP national executive to dissolve the Gujarat House and go for fresh mandate.

The prime minister refused to accept the contention that the stand taken on Gujarat and rejecting demand of Modi's removal has created atmosphere of instability in the country.

He also denied that he has conveyed to Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu the BJP's decision not to accept his reiterated demand to remove Modi from the chief minister's seat.

When asked for his reaction on Congress president Sonia Gandhi's comment that he has lost his mental balance, he quipped : "the statement itself indicates who has lost mental balance".

After three-day meet of the national executive in Goa, the prime minister today afternoon is leaving for the national capital.

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