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RJD says it will oust government if it did not give up jingoism

The Rashtriya Janata Dal is planning to forge a new political front to pull down the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government at the Centre if it did not abandon its jingoistic stand on the nuclear tests, party spokesperson Suman Sahai said today.

In a statement in New Delhi, she expressed concern over the ''BJP's reckless actions and utterances'' and said the RJD would make a bid to oust the BJP-led coalition if it did not stop damaging the nation's image and future interests.

Hoping that nuclear jingoism would find no place in the coming budget session, Sahai said better sense should prevail in the government over the tests.

''India is passing through a very difficult period. We have yet to tackle poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. If it has been necessary to develop a nuclear capacity for country's security, this development must be dealt with great sobriety and caution,'' she said, reminding the Centre that it should display extraordinary restraint and responsibility both inside and outside the country.

The RJD leader criticised plans for 'Gaurav Yatra' with the Pokhran sand and construction of 'Shakti Mandir' at the blast site.

She said the government's jingoistic stand was damaging the country's image. The BJP had no business to put the country's reputation at stake for political gains, she added.

UNI

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