National   

Paswan hails EC decision

By K. Balchand

PATNA AUG. 18. The former Union Minister and the LJP president, Ram Vilas Paswan, has hailed the decision of the Election Commission in deferring elections to the Gujarat Assembly. He said he was confident that the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, would act according to his conscience and thwart the BJP's game plan.

Mr. Paswan was referring to the action of the BJP-led NDA in referring the EC's decision to the President for a reference to the Supreme Court.

He also congratulated the EC for not bowing to the pressures of the BJP.

Constitutional expert, Basudeva Prasad, said the EC had relied upon the apex courts ruling in the Bommai and the Digvijay cases in coming to the conclusion that the Gujarat Government had subverted the constitution by creating disunity among the people of the State.

Mr. Prasad maintained that free and fair elections were not possible when the social fabric had been torn apart and advocated imposition of President's rule in Gujarat. "Election in the present circumstances would be a sham and the new legislature a fake one, " he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Gujarat Govt. to approach apex court on EC decision?
• A cosy get-together at Advani's residence
• Cabinet move not an attack on EC, says Mahajan
• BJP still a party with a difference: Jaitley
• 7 militants, BSF officer killed in J&K
• 'U.S. sees no role in Kashmir issue'
• Advani drops U.S. visit
• Cabinet to discuss divestment of petroleum firms by month-end
• Panthers Party's call to defer J&K polls
• Bandh against KLO attack
• Jamir's formula for peace in Nagaland
• Paswan hails EC decision
• Political heavyweights vying for ticket for their wards
• Azad alleges violation of code by NC
• Task force for keeping rly. stations clean
• Fernandes all set to take over as Samata chief
• Fear of withdrawal by US-64 unit holders looms large
• Pak. Govt. approach to polls under attack

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu