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Advani asks Khurana to seek Chautala's support

The Bharatiya Janata Party leadership has asked former Union minister Madan Lal Khurana to try and seek the support of Indian National Lok Dal and other parties to help the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government sail through in case the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham withdraws support to it.

Sources said Khurana was called by Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani yesterday. After an hour-long meeting Advani entrusted him with the responsibility of talking to INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala and others.

When contacted, Khurana confirmed that he had been given the responsibility. ''It is my dharma (bounden duty) to help the government in the present crisis,'' he said.

Khurana said he had succeeded in establishing contact with Chautala who was in Jind, Haryana. However, Chautala had not given a positive response to his request for support, he said.

''I have urged him to take me into confidence before taking any final decision in the matter,'' Khurana said. ''Mr Chautala is coming to Delhi on April 12 and I will be meeting him then,'' he added.

UNI

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