New Delhi, April 7
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s days in the office appear to be numbered as the opposition to him seems to be growing within the BJP.

Even as Union Food Minister Shanta Kumar recently expressed his strong opinion on tragic communal incidents in the state, the latest salvo against the Gujarat Chief Minister was today fired by senior BJP leader Manohar Lal Sondhi who, in an open letter, has asked the party National Executive members to “reject Mr Modi’s evil machinations in toto”.

Mr Modi, from all indications available here, is expected to face criticism during the party’s National Executive meeting in Goa beginning from April 12.

Professor Sondhi, a former IFS officer and Lok Sabha member of Jan Sangh vintage, said: “The danger posed by Modi’s brazen challenge to Mr Vajpayee and the true ethos of the party can only be contained by the members of the National Executive making up their mind on which side they stand”.

“The key question facing you is on whose side are you in the political struggle, and how much effort are you prepared to make to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee”, the former BJP National Executive member said.

The party leadership is considering the view that Mr Modi would prove to be a liability for the BJP in the long run even if he was an asset in the short term.

“Under Article 356, the President can act on a report by the state Governor or on the advice of Council of Ministers but in case none of them come, then at times he can counsel the Prime Minister about the right things,” Chief Justice Ahmadi said in a panel discussion “Line of Fire” by Karan Thapar and to be telecast tomorrow night on SABe TV.

Noting that the President had some constitutional limitations, he said “He, however, can at times bring to the notice of the Prime Minister the reports other than those received from the state machinery or the Governor.”

The former Chief Justice said the report of the NHRC and Minorities Commission was enough for the President to “counsel” the Prime Minister.

Referring to the constitutional duty of the Governor, he said since their appointments were influenced by political parties, it was possible that this constitutional body would take the line followed by the party in power.

Other panelists at the discussion were former Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill and Country Director of Action Aid India and a former IAS officer Harsh Mander, who resigned from the civil service on Friday.

Asked whether there was a failure of the state government and if the Narendra Modi government should be sacked, Mr Ahmadi said, “If the government is not able to protect the life and liberty of its people or even the section of the people, then the Article 21 of the constitution is violated.”

He said the affected people were also tax payers and had every right to enjoy the basic rights of the Constitution.

Stating that the state government should resign immediately, he said, “If you cannot do it, you must call it a day.”

Mr Mander, while characterising the NHRC report as a “ray of hope”, alleged that the state government had failed on two counts, protection of minorities and anticipation of events after the Godhra massacre.