UNI

New Delhi, Aug 26: The absence of its ''Supreme leader'' and former President George Fernandes and his supporters marked the two-day National Executive of the Janata Dal (United) which started here today launching a scathing attack on the UPA government for its all round failure on the internal security front and containing price rise.

Though the date of the National Executive was fixed in consultation with Mr Fernandes, he chose to remain away at Hyderabad. Alongwith Mr Fernandes, his supporters--National General Secretary Shivkumar and former union minister Digvijay Singh--were also conspicuous by their absence at the meet which was attended by about 125 party members.

However, spokesman Shambhu Srivastava said there were no differences within the party and Mr Fernandes, who was consulted before fixing the date of the National Executive. Still if Mr Fernandes chose to remain deliberately away from the Executive, there was no question of convincing him to attend, Mr Srivastava said.

Terming Mr Fernandes as the ''Supreme leader of the Party'', he said that there was no reason for the NDA convenor and Parliamentary Party leader to ''sulk.'' Respondong to a question whether Mr Fernandes was annoyed at being removed from the Party President's post, Mr Srivastava said that all parties have elections for their internal democracy but defeat in party polls does not reduce the stature of big leaders.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also tried to make light of the situation by saying it was not necessary that all the leaders should attend the National Executive. Mr Fernandes must have had a good reason and pressing engagement at Hyderabad due to which he could not come, he added.

About the absence of Mr Digvijay Singh, Mr Srivastava said that he has informed that he is at Colombo and therefore could not come today but will definitely come tomorrow. He said most of the supporters of Mr Fernandes during the Patna meet attended the day's national executive.

Regarding the Prabhunath Singh-Sadhu Yadav episode in the Lok Sabha, Mr Nitish Kumar said since he was not a Member of Parliament, he would not comment on the proceedings of the House. However, Mr Singh has already explained his position and TV channels showed that he was on his seat and was in control while the railway minister had lost his cool. He said that JD(U) MPs were not in the well of the House.

Moreover, since the Bihar government had already taken action against the culprits in the rape case and the Ara incident on August 22 itself, there was no reason for such incident in Parliament.

Asked how a proclaimed offender (Sadhu Yadav) against whom a Non-bailable warrant has been issued was still attending Parliament while the Bihar Police was a silent spectator, Mr Kumar said that no body was above the law.

''I am not talking about any individual, but the hands of law are very long and nobody should have misconception that he/she is above law. Everyone is equal before the law and it reaches everyone sooner or later as was evident from the recent actions in Bihar,'' he said.