The Hindu : BJP threat absurd: CPI(M)

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 29, 2002

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BJP threat absurd: CPI(M)

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 28. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has said that the Vajpayee-led Central Government's refusal to intervene in Gujarat was because "it is a party to the game plan unleashed by the State Chief Minister and his administration in carrying on this cruel programme to date''.

An Editorial in the latest issue of the party mouthpiece, People's Democracy, said that the Centre, which had been avoiding a discussion on the Gujarat "genocide", had now started threatening the Opposition that it would discuss the law and order situation in the Opposition-ruled States.

"One hallmark of a fascist is the refusal to be accountable. The Prime Minister's reaction, terming it as "unfortunate'' the ruling of the Deputy Speaker permitting a discussion on the carnage under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha that entails voting, the refusal of the Home Minister to institute a probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge and the Ministry of External Affairs "disinformation" campaign, were developments of a similar nature.

"With the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Defence Minister and the Foreign Minister all endorsing the claim of the Gujarat Chief Minister that the situation is normal, how dare the Opposition seeks to discuss and vote on this matter? This is the thrust of the saffron brigade's ire'', the Editorial said.

Terming the BJP threat as "childish, immature and absurd'', the CPI(M) said a discussion in Parliament would focus on the culpability of the State Government in "patronising, encouraging and executing an inhuman fascistic programme.''

When such developments take place anywhere in the country, it was the duty of Parliament to discuss the matter and the duty of the Central Government to intervene and ensure that peace and normality were restored and the guilty brought to book.

Countering the BJP contention that such a discussion would set a bad precedent, the party said that on many occasions in the past, Parliament had discussed situations in various States when it affected the country's interest.

"The need to discuss the present Gujarat genocide is substantially more necessary and urgent given the fact that this directly affects the unity and integrity of India.

Further, since this is part of the saffron brigade's game plan to destroy the modern secular democratic Indian republic and in its place erect a fascistic "Hindu Rashtra''.

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