The Hindu : `Govt. ready to face no trust motion'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 21, 2002

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National

`Govt. ready to face no trust motion'

VADODARA APRIL 20. The Defence Minister and NDA convener, George Fernandes, today rejected the Opposition demand for discussion on Gujarat issue under Rule 184, and said the Government was ready to face no trust motion.

The Prime Minister, A B Vajpayee, had stated that the Opposition could move a no-confidence motion if it wanted to test the strength of the ruling NDA. ``All the NDA constituents are united and a debate on this issue is feasible under Rule 193 and the Government is ready for discussion under this rule,'' Mr. Fernandes told said.

Talks between Hindus and Muslims had been convened for tomorrow to set in motion the process of reconciliation between the two communities. The need of the hour is confidence building, he said and appealed to the community leaders to join the talks in Ahmedabad.

He did not rule out the possibility of a planned conspiracy behind the violence in the State after the Godhra carnage on February 27 and said investigations would bring out the truth.

Earlier, addressing the officers and jawans of the EME military school here, Mr. Fernandes lauded the role played by the Army and para military forces in bringing back normality very fast.

It was unfortunate that the media did not take notice, he added.

`Army won't be withdrawn'

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Mr. Fernandes said the Army would not be pulled out from Gujarat even as a marked improvement was witnessed in the situation in the State. _ PTI, UNI

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