M A I N   N E W S

Oppn insulting Gujarat: PM

New Delhi, February 27
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today blasted the Opposition in Lok Sabha charging it with “insulting Gujarat by politicising” the situation arising out of the earthquake there and warned “we will put you in the dock.”

“Attempts are being made to put us in the dock.....this is not proper and it has pained us. One should not indulge in such politics,” he said intervening in the special discussion on the situation arising out of the quake.

“We will bring out the truth and make you stand in the dock as you have tried to take political advantage out of this natural calamity,” a visibly annoyed Vajpayee said.

The Prime Minister was repeatedly interrupted by several Opposition leaders including Somnath Chatterjee, Shivraj Patil and Mulayam Singh Yadav who accused him of “politicising the issue”.

A visibly annoyed Chatterjee was heard remarking “while we have all respect for you as Prime Minister, you are behaving like a BJP leader.”

Dismissing Opposition charges that there was discrimination in providing relief to the quake victims, Mr Vajpayee said: “the planned propaganda that the Muslims and the Dalits were discriminated against....has resulted in the country’s image being tarnished abroad.”

Amid cries of “shame, shame” from the Treasury Benches, he said what was the need to repeatedly make such charges. “We will put you in the dock. You have put a black spot on Gujarat”.

Mr Vajpayee said in the face of such a grave tragedy, when the entire world had come forward with help, it was a pity that some parties continuously kept on levelling allegations despite the assurance by Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel at the all-party meeting that he would look into all complaints of discrimination and take strong action if there was any.

After extending full cooperation to the government at the all party meeting, the Prime Minister said he did not expect such a behaviour from the Opposition in the House.

“At that time I had said that the atmosphere at the all party meeting should be reflected in the House. But it did not happen. They put the government in the dock and said this quake happened because of this government,’’ Mr Vajpayee said.

Leader of the Opposition, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, had yesterday raised the discrimination issue, reiterating her allegation to which she had already got an assurance from Mr Patel at the all party meeting.

“I don’t want to carry this controversy further. I have only expressed my sentiments. The final decision will be taken by the public. The recent assembly elections have shown what the public feels,’’ Mr Vajpayee said amid loud thumping by the Treasury Benches.

Earlier, the House resumed its special discussion on the Gujarat earthquake with members calling for every effort to turn the massive tragedy into an opportunity to rebuild and correct the past failings.

The discussion on the government’s ‘suo motu’ statement on the January 26 earthquake that severely affected the Kutch region began yesterday. Mr Rajendrasinh Rana (BJP) said the Gujarat Government was trying to cope with the huge demands of rescue, relief and rehabilitation. He felt that it was unfair to accuse it of partisan attitude.

Ms S. Mayawati (BSP) feared that the quake relief was reaching only the urban people. The rural people were not getting much. The BSP member wanted the Centre to bring in more coordination in the relief and rehabilitation exercises. PTI, UNI