Saturday, July 2 2005 12:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jamshedpur: Babulal Marandi in support of the former Union Minister said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should seriously look into the issues raised by Sinha.

Close on the heels of the sacking of senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha as a party spokesman, party national vice-president Babulal Marandi yesterday (July 1, 2005) came out in support of the former Union Minister saying BJP should seriously look at the issues raised by Sinha in his criticism of functioning of BJP Government in Jharkhand.

When Sinha, being a senior leader of the party, had spoken out against Jharkhand Government, "the matter is serious" and party should discuss the issues across the table to sort out the 'problem', Marandi, a known detractor of Chief Minister Arjun Munda, told newsmen.

Reminding that Sinha had held responsible posts like Finance and External Affairs in the Union Cabinet, the former Jharkhand Chief Minister said the party should not overlook the issues raised by him.

Asked whether he had spoken to Sinha after BJP removed him as the party spokesperson, Marandi replied he had a talk with Sinha when he came to know about the party's decision about him from the media.

However, Marandi refused to comment about the functioning of Jharkhand Government.

Marandi had last month expressed resentment against the BJP leadership's decision to nominate Yedunath Pandey as the party's Jharkhand.

Sinha's removal as BJP spokesman came in the backdrop of his criticism of party chief L K Advani's remarks about Jinnah and his sharp attack on Arjun Munda government in Jharkhand.