Q. Who do you blame for the current political turmoil in the country?
A. The Congress and the Left parties are directly responsible. The Congress was trying hard to topple the Vajpayee Government ever since the latter came to power and the Left parties have joined hands with them. The latter have compromised with their ideologies and principles. Unfortunately, the Congress has now adopted a dilly-dallying attitude in forming an alternative government. In fact, the party is more interested in mid-term polls. It is of the opinion that if elections are held, it will get the mandate to form a government on its own. Lekin yeh uski sabse bari bhul hai.

Q. But you also voted against the Vajpayee Government, so you are also responsible for thepolitical crisis.
A. Yes. We can't escape from our responsibility. But we are not as responsible as the Congress. Agar BJP sarkar ke khilaph vote nahin dete to log kahte ki humlog communal hain. So, to prevent the erosion of our vote bank, we voted against the BJP, the communal force. The Congress has nothing to do with communalism and secularism.

Q.. You don't think that President K.R. Narayanan should have visualised the gravity of the situation before asking Vajpayee to seek a vote of confidence?
A. I don't want to involve Rashtrapati Bhavan in this controversy. But, in my view, AIADMK leader J. Jayalalitha is responsible. When she, with her 18 MPs in the Lok Sabha, withdrew support, the matter went to the President. The President must have thought that in the event of the fall of the Vajpayee Government, the Congress would come forward and form an alternative Government. Lekin Congress ne Rashtrapati aur janata dono ko andhera mein rakha...ek saptah beet jane ke baad bhi Congress abhitak sarkar banane par pahal nahin ki.

Q. Considering that out of the six Janata Dal MPs, some want to extend support to the Congress, do you see any further split in the party?
A. The Janata Dal was born to fight against corruption and the Congress. But I can't rule out the possibility (of a split). Let us see what happens in the next few days.

Q. For the past several years, you have fought against criminalisation of politics and corruption, including Laloo Prasad Yadav. Does your voting against the Vajpayee Government mean that you have also joined hands with such forces?
A. I agree that several political leaders who have voted against Vajpayee are facing various criminal or corruption charges. Laloo and Jayalalitha are involved in multi-crore corruption cases. But we had no option. My party had issued a whip telling us to vote against the BJP and we did so.pQ. You don't think your action wll send the wrong signal in Bihar where you have launched a crusade against the RJDGovernment and, more importantly, against Laloo?
A. No. I don't think it will send any wrong signal. The agitation launched against Laloo in Bihar is totally different. The people of my state know me, my objective and my strategy. Fearing a threat to his political existence, Laloo and his supporters have tried to eliminate me several times. Bihar ke aur neta Laloo Yadav se samjhouta kar sakte hain lekin Paswan nahin. Mein jab tak jinda hun Laloo ke khilaph mera andolan jari rahega.

Q.. What will be your stand if your party decides on any political combination that has Laloo's support?
A. I can't compromise with corruption and secularism. I will oppose any combination that has the support of Laloo Yadav. I will stick to my stand even if the party decides against it. I tendered my resignation from the parliamentary party leadership on the Bihar issue, demanding imposition of Central rule after the massacres.