Friday, November 4 2005 19:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Terming as 'very unfortunate' the continuance of Jaiprakash Narain Yadav in the Union Government despite being an 'absconder', the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (Nov4, 2005) renewed its demand for his ouster.

''There cannot be a bigger assault on democracy than continuance of an absconder in the Union Government despite a non-bailable warrant against him,'' BJP general secretary in-charge of Bihar affairs Arun Jaitley told a press conference here.

Even Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad had to resign his Chief Minister ship in the face of his arrest in the fodder scam, he said adding, ''If a situation similar to that involving Jaiprakash had obtained in any state, people would have begun to accuse the State Government of not running the administration in accordance with the constitution.''

''It is very unfortunate and potentially dangerous for democracy that the Central Government or the Prime Minister are doing nothing about it and a man continues to be a minister despite being an absconder,'' he said.