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No stopping globalisation, says PM

Rajeev Pai, aboard the PM's aircraft

In a clear indication of a growing rift between hardliners and moderates within the Sangh Parivar on economic policy, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said India could no longer remain oblivious of the changing reality around the world and turn away from globalisation.

Reacting to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief K S Sudarshan's statement chiding the Bharatiya Janata Party for cosying up to capitalists and calling for a return to the 'Gandhian model' of development, Vajpayee said his government would take all decisions with the country's interests uppermost in mind, "not under pressure from anyone".

The PM also hinted that the vacancies that have arisen in the Union council of ministers following the recent assembly elections would be filled up soon.

Speaking to reporters on board his special plane late last night, soon after takeoff from Mauritius after a three-day state visit, the prime minister said the salient features of the Gandhian model had been incorporated in the National Democratic Alliance's election manifesto on economic reforms.

He, however, cautioned that some ill-effects of globalisation have also become evident and steps ought to be taken to counter them. But there is no question of turning back from the process of globalisation itself, he asserted.

Referring to the developments in Bihar, where the NDA lost face on Friday when Nitish Kumar failed to muster sufficient support in the state assembly and was forced to resign despite having been given first shot at government formation, the prime minister, tongue firmly in cheek, said, "Democracy has triumphed".

He refused to comment on Governor Vinod Pande's decision to invite Nitish Kumar to form the government, but drew attention to the precedent where he himself was invited to form the government by President S D Sharma in May 1996 and had to quit 13 days later for lack of support. The late Dr Sharma had invited him as leader of the single largest party in the Lok Sabha and Governor Pande too must have similarly exercised his discretion and understanding, he said.

He also refused to speculate what would happen if Rabri Devi, who has now been invited to try her hand at government formation, also fails. He merely said further efforts would have to be made to try to form a government. But he ruled out support to Laloo Prasad Yadav in all circumstances.

On Bill Clinton's decision to stop over briefly in Pakistan, the prime minister said it makes no difference to India and is a "sovereign decision" of the United States. But he said he had cautioned the American president when the latter informed him of the decision on telephone that it would be used by the military regime of General Pervez Musharraf as proof that the US had accepted its legitimacy.

He said India and the US would discuss a wide range of issues of "mutual interest", including the need to curb terrorism, during Clinton's visit beginning March 19. Asked to name specific issues, he quipped, "Improving bilateral relations is a specific issue."

He admitted that there had been no change in the US stand that Jammu and Kashmir is disputed territory, but added that India was equally firm in rejecting it.

On the RSS membership controversy, he denied that the Gujarat government's revocation of its decision to lift the ban on its employees joining the Sangh was a setback for the BJP. He claimed that it was just a "matter of perception".

On Uttar Pradesh, he said there was a clear need and scope for greater improvement in the Ram Prakash Gupta government's performance, but denied any rift between the government and the party machinery in the state.

He avoided answering whether there would be a rollback of the cut in subsidies on foodgrains and fertilisers. "Just wait for the Appropriations Bill," he said.

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