The Hindu : CPI(M) for President's rule in Gujarat

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

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CPI(M) for President's rule in Gujarat

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 10. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today for the first time demanded that President's rule be imposed in Gujarat after dismissing the Narendra Modi Government saying that it was the only way to save Gujarat from further violence and destruction and to protect the minorities.

"The CPI (M) does not normally support the use of Article 356 against a State Government. However, the situation in Gujarat is an extraordinary one — it strikes at the basic tenets of the Constitution and the secular principle of the Indian state,'' the party politburo members, Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury, said at a joint press conference.

The CPI (M) had supported the imposition of President's rule in four States after the demolition of the Babri Masjid when an extraordinary situation arose. "We feel that the present situation in Gujarat is extraordinary to make such a demand,'' Mr. Karat said, adding that the party would seek to garner support for its demand from other parties.

The CPI (M), which claimed that it had refrained from making such a demand on the grounds that it would only pave way for rule of the Union Home Minister through the Governor, said that President's rule would enable Parliament to suggest emergent measures to restore peace and normality.

The leaders said that even after 70 days, violence continued in Gujarat and the State Government had refused to provide protection to the minorities or take action against the culprits of serious crimes.

Referring to the over two lakh people in relief camps, they said that while authorities had issued orders for closure of the camps by month-end, those who tried returning to their homes were being threatened or attacked.

The BJP, the party said, had refused to remove Narendra Modi as Chief Minister despite demands from all sections, including its allies in the NDA.

The Centre's stand that it was acting in the spirit of Article 355 "is also a sham'' as there were no specific written directives to the Gujarat Government to tackle the situation. Moreover, Article 355 must be seen as a prelude to Article 356.

Savarkar airport

The CPI (M) defended its MP, Basudeb Acharia's opposition to the renaming of Port Blair airport as V.D. Savarkar airport stating that he could not be compared with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and other freedom fighters.

The party's politburo said Savarkar had filed a mercy petition while in the Cellular jail with the British authorities and got one. It charged the BJP with idolising Savarkar since he advocated an ideology similar to the one the RSS promotes.

Stating that a group of people had thrown crackers at Mr. Acharia's official residence on Thursday, the CPI (M) warned that the party would not be cowed down by such "fascist methods".

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