The Hindu : 'It was Gujarat's decision, but Centre was consulted'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 11, 2002

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'It was Gujarat's decision, but Centre was consulted'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 10. The Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, has finally gone on record that K.P.S. Gill's appointment as Security Adviser to the Chief Minister of Gujarat was a decision taken by the State Government "but in consultation with the Centre.''

Mr. Advani was responding today to queries from the members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Home Ministry.

He also reportedly said that since Mr. Gill had been appointed by the State Government, it was reasonable to expect that his "advice'' would be heeded by the Gujarat cadre officers.

Otherwise, Mr. Advani stuck to the known arguments on the nature of and responsibility for the continuing violence. He reiterated that intelligence reports, including intercepts, would suggest that some underworld elements were "in touch with their mentors in Pakistan''.

As per his information, "arms, ammunition and explosives'' were being provided from "across the border'' for sustaining the violence.

Nonetheless, he assured the committee that the Centre would do it utmost to bring peace to Gujarat, and that even if the Rajya Sabha had not passed the "Article 355'' resolution early this week, his Government would have been mindful of its obligations "to protect a State in times of internal strife or external threat.''

And, now that the Rajya Sabha had passed the resolution, it had only made the Government more conscious of its duty.

The Consultative Committee members wanted to know about the relief and rehabilitation efforts. Mr. Advani assured the members that the Centre would continue to ensure a humane and adequate approach.

The Congress member, Arjun Singh, raised the matter of follow-up action on the Jain Commission's findings in the matter of Rajiv Gandhi assassination.

The committee was told that the Multi-Disciplinary Monitory Agency (MDMA) would continue to function for another year, even after its terms expires on May 31, 2002.

The MDMA is supposed to be the inter-department coordination committee to look into the follow-up measures.

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