The Hindu : Centre must act, says Gujral

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 13, 2002

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National

Centre must act, says Gujral

NEW DELHI May 12. The Centre cannot be a silent spectator to the ongoing violence in Gujarat and has a responsibility to protect the lives and property of the people under Article 355, the former Prime Minister, I. K. Gujral, has said.

``The Centre cannot absolve its responsibility by just appointing a security adviser to the State Chief Minister as the situation remains grim,'' Mr. Gujral said.

Commenting on the Opposition demand for removal of Mr. Narendra Modi, he said the ruling party cannot take a rigid stand that the Chief Minister would not be replaced. ``Is it enough for the BJP to say there was no need for a change of leadership in the State which is reeling under violence for the past two months?'', he asked.

The Centre should appreciate the concern of the people and political parties. It is not a question of mere legal interpretation whether Article 355 or 356 shoud be followed. The question is whether the basic spirit of the Constitution to protect the lives and property of the people is upheld or not, he said. In this case, there is no doubt that the Centre has abdicated its basic duty,he said.

On India's terming the concern voiced by the Europen Union and some other Western countries on the continuing violence as interference in its internal affairs, he said "Our reaction doesn't give an impression of a matured diplomacy.''

Elaborating, he said, the world of today is primarily concerned with the universal acceptance of human rights. ``It is natural that the foreign countries and diplomats express their anguish over the unabated violence in Gujarat''.

``India is a secular State. When a minority is under attack, the entire majority rises and speaks against the violence perpetuated on the minority. Fortunately, the violence in Gujarat has not spilled over to any other States in the country...And this is the strength and success of our secularism''. — UNI

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