Date:24/07/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/07/24/stories/2002072405090100.htm

Front Page

Advani rejects demand for President's rule in Gujarat

By Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI JULY 23. Rejecting the Opposition demand for imposition of President's rule in Gujarat, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, today said the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, did not need a "certificate" from the Opposition parties but certainly needed one from the people.

Replying to the eight-hour long discussion in the Lok Sabha on relief and rehabilitation measures in Gujarat, Mr. Advani brushed aside the Opposition accusation that Mr. Modi was guilty of encouraging violence in Gujarat. In his opinion, there was no breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in the State to warrant the imposition of President's rule.

"This is a baseless allegation that the violence in Gujarat was state-sponsored. There can be officials in the administration who are guilty but that will be pinpointed by the Commission of Inquiry already looking into all such related aspects,'' he said.

In his 45-minute reply, Mr. Advani said Mr. Modi's offer of resignation had been rejected by the BJP's national executive in Goa and the Chief Minister wanted to go in for the polls in April itself but was asked to ensure the restoration of peace.

Pointing towards the Opposition benches, Mr. Advani said: "You have forced him (Mr. Modi) to go to the people. He does not need your certificate, he needs the certificate of the people. Whatever he has done by recommending the dissolution of the Assembly is within the ambit of the Constitution and politically right.'' Referring to Article 174 of the Constitution, Mr. Advani said there was no ambiguity about it and the Chief Minister's advice was binding on the Governor. He termed the Opposition attack on the Governor and the Chief Minister as `unfair and wrong'' that the two top State functionaries were RSS "pracharaks".

`Even the Congress has found somebody from the RSS", he quipped while referring to Shankarsinh Waghela who was recently appointed president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress.

Mr. Advani said the Election Commission would soon have discussions with the officials of the State Government to arrive at a decision on fixing the poll schedule. The Centre would persuade the Commission to ensure that all those whose names figured in the electoral rolls were able to cast their votes even in the absence of the voter identity card.

Mr. Advani said that out of the 182 Assembly constituencies in Gujarat there had not been a single incident of violence in 103 and only 79 segments had been affected. By the end of May, there was peace in all the segments.

Referring to the views expressed by the Samata Party and others that in the case of all Assembly polls President's rule should be imposed, Mr. Advani stopped short of suggesting a proposal as the Opposition wanted Gujarat to be the test case.