PM seeks details of massacre

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 17. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, is reported to have sought through ``central sources'' details about the latest massacre in Bihar which has resulted in 34 brutal deaths. So far, only the central agencies' assessment has been sought, and the Centre would be wary, at this stage, to be seen as taking more than a ``correct'' interest.

However, it is realised that the BJP's partners in the National Democratic Alliance would react strongly to the massacre, and there would be a predictable call for ``central action'' against a State Government which has failed to stop the spate of killings and counter-killings.

Demands have already been voiced for imposition of President's rule. The Union Government, nonetheless, is not likely to allow itself to be stampeded into any hasty action.

No one has forgotten the embarrassment caused by the earlier attempts by an impetuous Home Minister to bring Bihar under President's rule.

The Rabri Devi Government has come to power after a fresh election, and in any case the Government has no majority in the Rajya Sabha to make the President's rule stick. A case, therefore, would have to be made for invocation of Article 356.

Only three weeks ago, the Union Home Ministry ``advised'' the Government of Bihar ``to take remedial steps for prevention of impending clashes, between Senas on the one hand and the left- extremists groups on the other, in sensitive districts of central Bihar.'' On May 25, the Home Ministry voiced its ``concern'' over killings in Patna, Gaya, Jehanabad, Bhojpur and Aurangabad.

Though the Union Government had not specifically mentioned Article 355, the warning was seen as a soft invocation of that constitutional provision which enjoins the Centre to ``ensure that the Government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.''

The inclination, for now, is to let the gravity of the situation sink; the obvious failure of the Rabri Devi government to deal firmly with the caste senas would put the onus on the RJD's supporting parties.

Only then would it be possible to think in terms of Article 356.

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