The Hindu : Gujarat incident: Angry scenes in Lok Sabha

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 01, 2002

Front Page

Front Page

Gujarat incident: Angry scenes in Lok Sabha
By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 28. The spectre of a communal conflagration in Gujarat and the danger of its spreading elsewhere did not prevent Vinay Katiyar, BJP MP from Faizabad-Ayodhya, from virtually attacking the Government and its Ministers for daring to ask the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to roll back its temple construction plan.

The venue was the Lok Sabha and the verbal assault led to an impromptu statement from the Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, after the budget presentation. The Speaker's indulgence in allowing the statement helped cool the tempers and the budget was presented smoothly although earlier Mr. Katiyar had threatened not to allow it.

Even before the House assembled, Mr. Katiyar and fellow MP from Padrauna, Ram Nagina Mishra, were seen gesticulating and talking angrily with Mr. Advani and Minister, Murli Manohar Joshi. ``Jo Hindu hit ki baat karega, wahi desh mein raj karega (only those who are pro-Hindu can govern this country),'' the VHP activists among BJP MPs shouted. ``Ram bhakt ke hatiyaron ko phansi do phansi do (hang those who killed the Ram bhakts),'' they chanted, referring to the gruesome Godhra incident. In response Mr Advani simply stood before them with his hands folded.

In fact, for about 15 minutes even before the House proceedings began and after the Speaker took his chair, the Opposition mutely watched some BJP MPs shouting angrily at senior BJP Ministers. It seemed as if the internal bickerings within the sangh parivar had spilled out in the open, and would have also gone on air had it not been for someone quickly stopping the live telecast that was ready to present the budget to the people.

Advani's statement

Mr. Advani made a brief statement later. He said the Centre was in constant touch with the State Government. Immediately after Wednesday's attack on the Sabarmati Express at Godhra he had alerted States to take action to prevent communal flare-ups. A judicial inquiry by a retired High Court judge had been ordered and 40 persons arrested in connection with the incident in which 58 persons were reportedly killed. Trouble had also broken out in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Anand where four persons had been killed in different incidents.

Mr. Advani said the Government would try and find out whether only local residents were involved in the murderous attack or ``there was another angle to it.'' He indicated that in the present security environment nothing could be ruled out.

Sympathising with the anguish of members who earlier in the day had occupied the well of the House, Mr. Advani said ``there can be no two opinions on the incident, no words were strong enough to condemn the Godhra attack.'' He also added that perhaps the burning of coaches with passengers on board was the worst ever incident of violence. He promised to get back to the House when he had more information.

Echo in RS

The Godhra incident echoed in the Rajya Sabha when it met at 2 p.m. Members sought a statement from the Government and the chair said a detailed discussion could be held later.

The Leader of the Opposition, Manmohan Singh, said it was a ``ghastly tragedy which had led to loss of many lives. It was the obligation of the Central and State governments to protect the lives of citizens.'' Many other MPs expressed similar views.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

140 killed as Gujarat bandh turns violent

Union Budget 2002-2003: Sinha on a taxation binge

'Common man will be hit'

PM seeks RSS help

Gujarat incident: Angry scenes in Lok Sabha

U.P. Govt. orders eviction of kar sevaks from Ayodhya

CCS asks Army to be on standby