The Hindu : BJP moves exposed: CPI(M)

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 18, 2002

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National

BJP moves exposed: CPI(M)

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 17. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today said the Election Commission's decision not to hold immediate elections in Gujarat has ``thoroughly exposed'' all moves by the BJP to force polls.

The CPI (M) Politburo said the EC had rejected the BJP's assertion that the situation in the State was normal and conducive to the holding of free and fair elections, only after a through assessment of the ground realities in Gujarat — first by sending a nine-member team and thereafter following it up with a visit by the full Commission.

"The nefarious moves of the BJP such as non-holding of the Assembly session in time, premature dissolution of the Assembly and blatant attack against the Election Commission were all meant to force an immediate election in Gujarat. All such moves have been thoroughly exposed," a statement from the Politburo said.

The CPI-ML (Liberation) too welcomed the EC decision and reiterated its demand for dismissal of the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, and imposition of President's rule.

In a statement, the party said the EC's assessment had again substantiated the findings of several citizens' and human rights bodies that Gujarat "is still crying for rehabilitation of the victims and action against the perpetrators of the genocide''.

Meanwhile, in another statement, the CPI (M) demanded a thorough inquiry into the allocation of 40.15 acres of land in the name of the BJP chief, M. Venkaiah Naidu, and his family members.

It said these lands were situated in his native district, Nellore, and, according to reports, the `D form pattas' obtained by the BJP chief and his family were issued as per the Government rules only to the poor and downtrodden sections of society and not allotted to persons who own any piece of land in their own names.

The party said that according to reports, the irregular allocations were obtained by misusing Mr. Naidu's position as an MLA at that time.

The Andhra Pradesh Government should conduct an immediate enquiry into the whole affair and take steps to cancel irregular allocations.

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