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Rift in Modi Cabinet over violence

By Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR May 8. The continued violence in Ahmedabad and some other parts of riot-torn Gujarat seems to have created a rift in the Narendra Modi Cabinet with several Ministers speaking up against the handling of the situation.

Though the agenda before the Cabinet meeting today was to discuss Gujarat's "claim'' to the waters of Sindhu river in Pakistan, the law and order situation figured prominently with some of the Ministers questioning the role the former Punjab police chief, K.P.S. Gill, is expected to play in the State.

Mr. Modi was reportedly put on the defensive, with the attack coming from an unexpected corner, the Industries Minister, Suresh Mehta, a moderate in the Cabinet. Pointing out the veil of secrecy over Mr. Gill's appointment as the Security Adviser to the Chief Minister, Mr. Mehta wanted to know whether he was "imposed by the Centre'' and how he would handle the situation.

He also wondered if Mr. Gill was appointed by the State Government, why was he talking directly to the Centre, more precisely the Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, and decide about "requisitioning" 1,000 trained police commandos from Punjab.

Mr. Modi's reply that Mr. Gill was sent to the State at his own request, failed to satisfy the Ministers, who pointed out the reluctance shown by the State Government at the initial stages to accept Mr. Gill. They also wanted to know the facilities the State Government planned to extend to Mr. Gill to bring the situation under control.

Some of the Ministers also felt that Mr. Gill's appointment indicated "failure" of the State's law and order machinery and would further demoralise it. They believed that the latest bout of disturbances in some parts of Ahmedabad from Sunday could be the result of the overall demoralisation of the police force. Particularly, the Ministers from Ahmedabad, the worst-hit by the riots, took exception to the continuation of violence. Though the Ministers such as Ashok Bhatt, Bharat Barot, Kaushik Patel and Haren Pandya were considered to be close to Mr. Modi, they expressed disappointment over the continued violence. They are believed to have told Mr. Modi that the continued violence was not only bringing a bad name to Gujarat nationally and internationally, it was also causing a loss of image for the ruling BJP.

Some of the Ministers felt that contrary to the initial estimates of the BJP returning to power with a resounding majority in the coming elections, the continued violence could actually harm the party's interests. They also pointed out that the entire trading community, suffering heavy losses in the disturbances for the last two and a half months, had become alienated from the BJP and large sections of the common masses were also dissatisfied with the Government's performance.

It was perhaps for the first time since the riots broke out in the aftermath of the Godhra carnage on February 27 that the law and order situation became a topic of discussion in the Cabinet meeting because of Mr. Modi's reluctance. The Chief Minister always maintained that only a small part of the State was hit by the riots which could be handled by the law and order machinery and that the State Government needed to move on with "developmental'' activities.

The sudden spurt in violence since Sunday in which at least 35 persons have lost their lives in Ahmedabad alone, has also put a question mark on Mr. Gill's mission to contain violence. Police sources feel that the Sangh Parivar, displeased over his appointment, has sparked the current round of violence.

Mr. Gill, who returned from Delhi on Tuesday night, held a high-level meeting with the top police officers on the prevailing situation in the State, particularly Ahmedabad. He declined to talk to the media but it is learnt that he briefed the top police officers about the role he would assign to his select Punjab commandos in containing violence. The commandos are expected to reach here in batches in a day or two.

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