The Hindu : 'Constitutional crisis, BJP's own making'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2002

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National

'Constitutional crisis, BJP's own making'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 19. Continuing with its offensive against the Centre's decision to seek a Presidential reference from the Supreme Court on the Election Commission's interpretation of Article 174 of the Constitution, the Congress today said the "constitutional crisis'' being touted by the Government as justification for such a move is a situation of BJP's own making.

Drawing attention to the fact that the Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat had been speaking of an early election since March itself, the Congress spokesman, Anand Sharma, said the decision to dissolve the State Assembly was a pre-meditated move aimed at pressurising the EC into calling for an early poll.

Briefing reporters here, Mr. Sharma said the decision to seek a Presidential reference was evidence of the BJP's intolerance to any view that the party found inconvenient, and its disrespect for the Constitutional authority. Further, the decision to seek the apex court's opinion on the EC's interpretation of Article 174 was the latest in a series of attempts to subvert institutions.

While conceding the possibility of a legal issue in the EC's interpretation that Article 174(1) could yield to Article 324, the Congress, according to Abhishek Singhvi, is not challenging the Presidential reference. "What we are questioning is the propriety and necessity of making such a reference at this juncture.''

The Congress is of the view that the Government's reaction to the EC's decision was a confirmation of the "BJP's frustration.''

"The BJP has an agenda and wants to exploit the communal divide that they have created to suit their own narrow interests.''

Meanwhile, the AICC general secretary in-charge of Gujarat, Kamal Nath, has written to the Chief Election Commissioner urging him to protect the Government officers who "truthfully deposed before the Commission'' from any witch-hunt.

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