Why was the Rabri Devi government dismissed?
The BJP-Samata combine wanted to dismiss it ever since they came to power at the Centre last year, but could not because of pressure not only from the main opposition party, the Congress but also from its own allies. They succeeded this time only because of the ambiguous stand of the Congress.

But don't you think despite being warned by the Centre, Rabri Devi failed to check the spate of caste-related violence in Bihar?
The Centre did not concede Rabri Devi's demand for more Central forces tocontrol activities of the Ranabir Sena. But 20 companies of paramilitary forces were rushed to Bihar immediately after the imposition of President's rule.

Isn't it proof enough of the Centre's conspiracy to dislodge a popularly elected Government?

You seem to be frustrated with the Congress' refusal to topple the Vajpayee Government at the Centre?
The Vajpayee Government is obviously running on oxygen provided by the Congress. The Congress did not want to topple it for the fear of fomenting political instability. The party president Sonia Gandhi claims it will fall under its own weight. But where is the weight? Mamata Banerjee is joining the Government, Jayalalitha has accepted the sops of abolishing special courts to try her cases and the BJP has held detailed discussions with Om Prakash Chautala. When the Congress toppled Deve Gowda and Gujral governments, they did not even care for political instability then. Can't you see the BJP and the Congress are two sides of the same coin?

But theCongress claims to fight the BJP, not you?
The resolutions passed at the AICC session in Pachmarhi and then at the Hardwar conclave make it abundantly clear that the Congress wants to fight the Samajwadi Party in UP and the RJD in Bihar. The Congress is more keen on demolishing the RLM than fighting the BJP or even rebuilding its own base in these states. In fact, the Congress is trying to weaken the secular forces.

Do you mean to say the Congress is not a secular party?
Can any secular party be responsible for installing idols inside the Babri Masjid, its opening for performing puja, performing shilanyas, razing Babri Masjid and giving a call for Ram Rajya from the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. If it can be (a secular party), then even the BJP and VHP are secular outfits.

The Congress has appointed several members of the minority communities in important party positions...
Where were they when the Babri Masjid was being razed? The minority community members in the P.V. NarasimhaRao cabinet did not resign. Now when such people holding important party posts in Uttar Pradesh talk of secularism, it sounds ridiculous.

But all this is old. The party has changed.
The Congress Working Committee's resolution on secularism being upheld only due to the Hindutva is another proof of Congress's attitude towards minorities. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's statement that aggressive secularism was not good for the party also shows true colours of the Congress. Secularism is secularism, it can neither be mild nor aggressive.The Congress does want to woo the minorities but at the same time it also wants to regain its upper-caste vote bank. This is why it has of late started appearing like a pale shadow of the BJP. The fact that the BJP-led Government replaced all Governors appointed by the Congress and the United Front except one, who is the father of a UP Congress leader, isn't reason enough for the concerned leader to oppose the Samajwadi Party and not the BJP in UP.

TheCongress claims both the BJP and the Samajwadi Party compliment each other by pampering majority and minority communities respectively.
When the Samajwadi Party is opposed to the BJP, how can it compliment it? Even if there is some weight in the charge, the same charge applies to the Congress as well because it too opposes the BJP like us.

n But the Congress never supported the BJP though your party in its earlier incarnation as the Janata Dal thrived on the BJP's support.

On whose support do you think the minority Narasimha Rao Government survived? Of course the BJP's! The then leader of Congress Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha Arjun Singh used to manage floor coordination with the BJP.