The Hindu : Gujarat violence echo in House

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 02, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Gujarat violence echo in House

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD MARCH 1. The Gujarat violence reverberated in the Assembly on Friday when MIM and BJP members clashed over the Ayodhya issue when the MIM leader, Asaduddin Owaisi, warned against allowing `rogue' elements to take law and order into their hands.

Demanding maintenance of status quo at the 67-acre `disputed site' at Ayodhya, he said, "Muslims will not keep quiet as in 1992 (when the Babri Masjid was demolished) if the land is handed over to Vishwa Hindu Parishad."

Thie evoked a strong response from the BJP floor leader, N. Indrasena Reddy, who condemned Mr. Owaisi for ``using the Assembly as a platform to making provocative statements.'' He insisted that the 67-acre site was undisputed, a fact borne by the Apex Court.

Mr. Reddy said the BJP's stand was categorical that a temple should be built where a Ram mandir once stood and dared the Congress and the CPI (M) to aver the same about the mosque. Declining to pick up the gauntlet and add to the surcharged atmosphere, the CLP leader, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, reminded that everyone, including the Prime Minister, was in favour of awaiting the Apex Court's verdict in the matter.

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy offered to support a resolution suggested by the BJP leader condemning the Gujarat carnage. However, he sought to turn the tables on the BJP by proposing another resolution condemning the hike in LPG, kerosene and fertilizer prices in the Union Budget that the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, had himself criticised. The Treasury Benches sought time to consider his offer.

Trouble began when Mr. Owaisi said the TDP, which was propping up the NDA Government, had a `vicarious liability' for the Gujarat violence. Upon this, Mr. Indrasena Reddy retorted that it was the handiwork of ISI agents whom Mr. Owaisi supported and accused the MIM leader of wanting the NDA Government to fall so that his Congress friends could come to power. Strongly repudiating the charges, Mr. Owaisi asserted he was a proud Indian who was ready to sacrifice his life for the country.

He recalled cautioning the Home Minister a fortnight ago about kar sevaks leaving Hyderabad for Ayodhya in large numbers and said Mr. Devender Goud had summarily dismissed his fears.

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