NDA allies have right to seek rollback: Joshi

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, APR. 28. The Union Human Resource Development Minister, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, today defended the right of the NDA allies to ask for a rollback of the hike in prices of essential commodities.

Talking to reporters, Dr. Joshi said every party had the freedom to raise such issues with the Government. However, when asked if it was proper for the allies, who were a part of the Government, to question Cabinet decisions, Dr. Joshi said the question should be addressed to the allies.

The Union Minister defended the review of the Constitution, saying such a review had the mandate of the people as it was in the NDA manifesto. In any case, all amendments to the Constitution would have to be passed by a two-third majority. The NDA, he pointed out, did not have such a majority in the Lok Sabha. In the Rajya Sabha, it did not have a majority at all. There was transparency in the review, he added.

Dr. Joshi identified the enlarging of the domain of fundamental rights, electoral reforms, judicial reforms, separation of powers between judiciary, executive and legislature, decentralisation of powers to States and local bodies, misuse of Article 356, political stability, and anti- defection law as some of the areas where there could be a review.

When asked about the President's speech where he spoke of the political class having failed the Constitution, and not the Constitution having failed the people, Dr. Joshi said the President could have avoided making such a remark. However, when pressed further, Dr. Joshi declined to comment on whether the President had overstepped his powers, and said as a member of the Council of Ministers, he could not be expected to comment on this.

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