Recall of Governor not enough: Fernandes

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 1. Demanding, in effect, the dismissal of the AIADMK Government, a three-member NDA team led by the Samata Party leader, Mr. George Fernandes, today called for ``something more'' than recall of the Governor, Ms. Fathima Beevi, to rectify the ``breakdown of the Constitution'' as was evidenced by the incidents surrounding the arrest of the former Chief Minister,

Mr. M. Karunanidhi, and the Union Ministers, Mr. Murasoli Maran and Mr. T.R. Baalu.

Addressing a press conference after meeting Mr. Karunanidhi in the Central Prison here and Mr. Maran in hospital, Mr. Fernandes said that while the Governor was at fault in many matters, the instructions relating to the incidents came from the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa. However, it was for the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, and the Union Cabinet to decide what kind of action should be taken.

Referring to the arrest of the Union Ministers by the State Government, he said another day it might be the turn of some other Minister. ``If this is not breakdown of the Constitution, I do not know what else can be a breakdown of the Constitution.''

There could be no ``middle path'' in deciding on action against the Government, he added.

The BJP leader, Mr. V. K. Malhotra, another member of the team, said he did not see any option other than the use of Article 356. After the breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in the State, the Constitutional provisions to correct the situation must be invoked, he said.

The third member, Mr. S. S. Dhindsa, said the Chief Minister had created a Constitutional crisis. For the first time in the history of the country, Union Ministers had been arrested by a State Government. If such a situation was allowed to continue, then any State Minister opposed to the Centre could be arrested outside the State and a Chief Minister of one State could be arrested in another State.

At a separate press conference, the BJP president, Mr. Jana Krishnamurthy, said as the AIADMK Government had ``chosen to function defying Constitutional provisions, it cannot be allowed to seek Constitutional protection.''

Asked how the NDA Government at the Centre could dismiss the AIADMK Government when it lacked a majority in the Rajya Sabha, Mr.Krishnamurthy said that invoking Article 356 would not be difficult if the Opposition parties extended support. ``What prevents the Centre if it chooses to arrest the Ministers of the State Government?'' he asked.

The allies of the AIADMK front have condemned the demand for use of Article 356. Such demands were violative of democratic norms and federal philosophy, they said in a joint statement.

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