Ordinance on CNG ruled out

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 28. The Delhi Transport Minister, Mr. Parvez Hashmi, said today the Congress(I) Government was not in favour of promulgating an Ordinance to overrule any verdict of the Supreme Court with regard to the CNG crisis. At the same time, he expressed confidence that the court would give necessary relief during the next hearing keeping in mind the difficulties faced by the people and transporters.

In a strong rebuff to the senior BJP leader Mr. Madan Lal Khurana, Mr. Hashmi said: ``Ordinance is no solution to the present problem. We are against any kind of confrontation with the court and strongly oppose any move to quash the verdict of the Apex Court through an Ordinance. It fails me as to on what authority Mr. Khurana has been talking about an Ordinance before September 10. The Centre has not given an indication of such a move.''

Mr. Hashmi said instead of finding a solution, leaders like Mr. Khurana were trying to complicate matters. The Delhi Government has been trying to ensure that justice is done to the affected parties. Our officials and those of the Union Petroleum Ministry are already in touch with ``amicus curae'' to arrive at a common stand before the Supreme Court. But Mr. Khurana is trying to derail the whole process by indulging in dramatics and taking the people for a ride. ``We have already had three sittings with the ``friend of the court'' where good progress has been made. I am confident the court would provide relief,'' he added.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee(I) president, Mr. Subhash Chopra, congratulated bus operators for not taking part in the strike. He said the transporters have also seen through the game of Mr. Khurana and that is the reason they disassociated themselves from the strike.

He also praised the Delhi Government for taking timely steps to ensure that commuters did not suffer. He said the people have once again rebuffed the efforts of BJP leaders to disrupt normal life and condemned Mr. Khurana for indulging in dramatics. ``If he is so interested in the welfare of the people and transporters, he should stage a dharna in front of the Prime Minister's house to seek justice for Delhiites,'' he said.

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