Headway In Talks With Cong, Says Uf

The United Front yesterday claimed to have made some headway in its negotiations with the Congress, saying that tempers had cooled although a solution to the present political stalemate remained elusive.

I am glad to find that tempers have cooled down as compared to yesterday, Front spokesman Jaipal Reddy told newsmen, adding that this impression was based on signals received in course of the ongoing informal talks between the two sides over the last two days. He, however, said that no compromise formula had emerged as yet. Sticking to the stand that leadership of HD Deve Gowda was not negotiable, he refuted as ridiculous and untenable the charge levelled by Congress president Sitaram Kesri that Gowda was communal. He added that it is very inappropriate to personalise the situation.

While declining to identify the leaders involved in the talks, Reddy maintained that the understanding between the UF and the Congress was a historical necessity to keep communal forces at bay, adding in that perspective Congress needed to reconsider its decision.

He said that in the same perspective former Prime Minister VP Singh wanted the two sides to arrive at an understanding so that the present arrangement was not upset. There were very few intra-UF parleys yesterday, as many of the UF leaders are either out of town or they are busy with the their parties activities. While TMC leaders were away in Chennai to attend the partys functions, CPI(M) general secretary HS Surjeet was busy with his partys politbureau meet yesterday. It is scheduled to take place today also. Dal political affairs committee met late in the evening. Meanwhile, SP general secretaries Amar Singh and Ram Gopal Yadav yesterday said that their party was would not agree to any change in the Fronts leadership.

In a joint statement, they said we are firmly united under the leadership of HD Deve Goda. They also said the party would organise a solidarity rally at Etah in Uttar Pradesh on April 7 which would be addressed by Gowda.

Union defence minister Mulayam Singh yadav and CPI(M) general secretary HS Surjeet.