National

BJP for early Assembly polls

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR JUNE 28 . The Gujarat Revenue Minister, Haren Pandya, today said normality was fast returning to riot-torn Gujarat and Assembly elections in the State may be held before the BJP Government's tenure comes to an end in March 2003.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Pandya said the Gujarat unit of the BJP had informed the party high command that it was ready for elections. ``In a democracy, it is important to know what the people want and I hope there will be early polls in Gujarat.'' The BJP national president, Jana Krishnamurty, had said that the party would go to the polls under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi. He evaded a question whether the party was seeking early polls to take advantage of the communally surcharged atmosphere in the State.

On the demand from various quarters for the removal of Mr. Modi, the BJP leader said only the MLAs and the people of Gujarat had the right to decide who should be their Chief Minister.

The BJP leader, who was here to clarify the ``distorted picture'' that had emerged about the communal riots that followed the Godhra incident, said the State Government was taking all measures to ensure that the minority communities felt secure in the State.

About the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra, Mr. Pandya said efforts were on to prevent any untoward incident.

Recounting the steps take by his Government to tackle the law and order situation and implement the relief and rehabilitation measures for riot victims, Mr. Pandya said 1,32,000 people had taken shelter in 121 relief camps during the riots. Now there were only 15 relief camps with 16,325 inmates.

Rehabilitation work was on in full swing, Mr. Pandya said. Relief camps would continue to be in operation till all the people left for their homes. ``No one would be asked to leave the camp.''

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