NDA gives Centre free hand on Bengal

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 23. The ruling coalition partners in the National Democratic Alliance today took the unprecedented step of adopting a resolution virtually condemning the CPI(M)-led Government in West Bengal while requesting the Centre ``to take whatever steps it deems necessary to prevent the destruction of democratic institutions in West Bengal.''

While this gives a free hand to the Centre to take whatever action it thinks fit, some of the allies have already separately stated that they do not think it would be wise to invoke Article 356 of the Constitution to dismiss the West Bengal Government, and as for using the Disturbed Areas Act, the NDA convener, Mr. George Fernandes, today spoke about the ``problems and difficulties involved''.

The one-page resolution on the West Bengal situation adopted at the NDA meeting at the Prime Minister's residence this evening criticised the State administration for remaining a ``silent spectator'' to the violence, if not actively being involved in it, and charged the CPI(M) cadres with ``killing and maiming'' activists and supporters of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.'' It spoke of ``gang-raping'' of women and ``looting and burning of houses.'' The resolution said that the victims of CPI(M)'s depredations were ``mostly Muslims, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and women and children''.

As expected, the Trinamool chief, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, spoke at length and suggested using the Disturbed Areas Act. The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, gave an account of the exchange of letters between him and the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr. Jyoti Basu, once again charging him with using ``intemperate language''.

Briefing presspersons later, Mr. Fernandes confirmed that Ms. Banerjee had ``mentioned the Disturbed Areas Act''. Mr. Fernandes also gave his own impressions of his visit to the State.

However, Mr. Fernandes conceded that Ms. Banerjee was herself ``aware of the problems involved in invoking the Disturbed Areas Act,'' thus hinting that it may not be possible to invoke it or even amend the law as being talked about.

West Bengal and the increase necessitated in the administered prices of petroleum products were the two substantive issues discussed at the NDA meeting which was attended by almost all the allies, including Mr. Murasoli Maran (DMK), Mr. Suresh Prabhu (Shiv Sena), Mr. Vaiko (MDMK), Mr. Nitish Kumar (Samata Party), and Mr. Kushabhau Thakre (BJP). Mr. Ramadoss of the PMK could not attend as he was the victim of a violent assault recently on which members expressed their concern.

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