The Hindu : 'Presidential reference to SC a big drama'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 24, 2002

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'Presidential reference to SC a big drama'

By Our Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD AUG. 23. The Gujarat Congress president, Shankarsinh Waghela, today said the presidential reference to the Supreme Court on elections in the State was a "big drama, '' enacted by the of the Union Cabinet, intended only to keep the caretaker Narendra Modi Ministry in office.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Waghela said the BJP-led Government at the Centre should dismiss immediately the Modi Ministry and impose President's rule in the State.

The Centre had deliberately referred the issue through the President only to avoid a directive from the Supreme Court. If it had gone to the apex court directly challenging the Election Commission's decision, it would have been bound by the judgment of the apex court.

Condemning Mr. Modi's criticism of the Chief Election Commissioner, J. M. Lyngdoh, Mr. Waghela said the Chief minister had ''lost the mental balance.'' Otherwise he would not have used such derogatory language against a constitutional authority, he said and wondered why the BJP and Mr. Modi expected the CEC to give a decision they wanted.

Mr Waghela said Mr. Modi's "Gaurav rath yatra" would turn out to be a "shame yatra'' for the BJP when the people would ask what the BJP was proud about. His party would not try to counter it the Modi "rath yatra" because people themselves would counter it asking the Chief Minister embarrassing questions on the Government's performances on water, power, and various other fronts.

He also accused the Modi Government of showing criminal negligence towards the problems of drought causing immense sufferings to the people.

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'Presidential reference to SC a big drama'