NDA taking its allies for granted, says SAD leader Naresh Gujral

At a time when the BJP is trying cobble up numbers in favour of land bill, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Naresh Gujral accused it of taking allies for granted.

At a time when the BJP is trying cobble up numbers in favour of land bill, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Naresh Gujral accused it of taking allies for granted.

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In an interview to HT, Gujral said, “All allies are taken for granted on different issues. It has been over two months that an NDA meeting has not been held. In this government, the decision-making process has become highly centralised.”

In an indirect message to PM Narendra Modi, Gujral, a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, pointed out that Atal Behari Vajpayee was a successful PM because “he could engage maximum stake-holders.”

“But in this government we see even a lot of ministers and the BJP have become reluctant stakeholders. The leadership has to engage them,” he said.

Gujral feels the ruling party needs to consult allies and other stake holders more before arriving at a decision. “On the land bill, we were asked to give our opinion only two hours before the legislation was introduced in the House.”

“I fail to understand why the main ruling party is so bullish? It must reach out as it doesn’t have numbers in its favour in Rajya Sabha. The Congress won’t budge, but other parties may come around. But for that, the ruling party needs to reach out to them.”