The Hindu : Allies uneasy over Gujarat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 09, 2002

National

National

Allies uneasy over Gujarat

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 8. A sense of disquiet has crept in among some allies of the National Democratic Alliance over the continuing communal violence in Gujarat and the inability of the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, to bring it under control.

If the Samata Party's demand for his removal was an indication of the uneasiness among the allies, the Lok Janshakti Party and the Janata Dal (United) too are working on their response.

The Samata Party president, V.V. Krishna Rao, said he would lead a delegation of party leaders to Gujarat to review the situation. The party had made its stand clear through its spokesman and the visit was to have a first-hand assessment of the ground situation.

One of the concerns of the Samata Party is that it was being targeted by political rivals who question its `secular' credentials. The party also feels constrained to seek the removal of Mr. Modi as it cannot be seen as having different yardsticks, one for Bihar, where the party has repeatedly sought the removal of the RJD Government after caste violence, and another which involves an NDA constituent.

The Lok Janshakti Party of Ram Vilas Paswan will hold a press conference tomorrow to make its stand public. The spokesman, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, said the party would not hesitate to demand Mr. Modi's dismissal.

The Janata Dal (United) today issued a statement commenting on the "unimaginable sacrilege" committed by the Gujarat police at Sabarmati Ashram.

The party vice-president, C. Narasimhappa, said that while he did not have "any sympathy for Medha Patkar or her ilk who seek to deny water to parched Gujarat'', the Gandhi Ashram should not have been the venue for angry youth workers of the BJP and the Congress to express their wrath. He advised Mr. Modi to apologise "to the conscience of the nation which still fortunately worships the Mahatma''.

The BJP spokesman, Sunil Shastri said the right forum for the allies to raise their grievances was the NDA coordination meeting and suggested that they broach the issue during the meeting.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National