Keep the BJP out

With commerce minister Pranah Mukherjee and commerce secretary A V Ganeshan both indicating the government was veering around to the pro-Dunkel point of view, its opponents have become worried. The Karnataka Rajya Ryot Sarigha (KRRS), the most prominent critic of the proposals, said it would try to persuade opposition members of Parliament to resign in order to put pressure on the government. KRRS also said it would seek the support of L K Advani, leader of the Bharativa Janata Party (BJP), which is the largest opposition party in Parliament.

However, the move backfired because many other members of the anti-Dunkel lobby are strongly opposed to the BJP. Gene Campaign convener Suman Sahai says, "This is party politics. There can be no other explanation for KRRS approaching the BJP, which has avoided taking a position on the Dunkel proposals."

Though Sahai still says she is prepared to join anyone to get the proposals stalled, she will not support KRRS because she says "KRRS has political aspirations". Sahai finds the move suspicious also because "the last time Advani visited the US, he made it clear his party was not opposed to the Dunkel demands."

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