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Tuesday,
May 7, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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RS passes censure motion on Gujarat New Delhi, May 6 The motion, moved by Congress leader Arjun Singh, was adopted unanimously by voice vote and no division was pressed on it. Although the Opposition government divide persisted on various issues like the removal of the Narendra Modi government, there seemed to be some satisfaction in the Opposition Benches that the motion had been adopted unanimously in “letter and spirit”. Earlier, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, while intervening in the 17-hour debate, rejected the demand for the removal of Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Though the unanimous adoption of the motion was somewhat unprecedented, the government had hit upon this tactic to save an inevitable defeat in case of a division in voting because of lack of numbers. The motion read, “That this House expresses its deep sense of anguish at the persistence of violence in Gujarat for over six weeks, leading to loss of lives of a large number of persons, destruction of property worth crores of rupees and urges the Central Government to intervene effectively under Art 355 of the Constitution to protect the lives and properties of the citizens and to provide effective relief and rehabilitation to the victims of violence.” In his short but crisp reply, the Prime Minister said, “The government will fully implement in letter and spirit the House motion seeking more effective action under Article 355. There need be no doubt about it”. Seeking to set at rest controversy over his remarks in Gwalior on Saturday, he recalled, “I said the debate is on in Parliament and in effect it is a notice (under Art 355) to the Gujarat authorities.” The Prime Minister said the government had agreed on a unanimous motion not for saving itself from any embarrassment but had even suggested such a course in the Lok Sabha where it did not materialise. Both the Prime Minister and Home Minister L.K. Advani said though at one time the issue of changing the Chief Minister was considered, it was felt that “this is not a solution”. The Prime Minister maintained that any change of leadership could have further worsened the situation. “In retrospect, we feel that it was a right decision.” He even accused the Opposition of trying to exploit the Gujarat issue to come to power “without waiting for Lok Sabha elections”. The Home Minister said resorting to Art 355 did not mean automatically that action under Art 356 (imposition of President’s rule) would follow. After the motion was passed by voice vote and without any division being pressed, then Chairman hoped that the unanimous voice would help remove the “dark clouds” over Gujarat and build confidence among people. Mr Vajpayee ruled out immediate prospects of Assembly elections in Gujarat and suggested that leaders of political parties could sit together after adoption of the motion and discuss ways to bring peace in the state. Dismissing Opposition criticism over his remarks on militant Islam in his speech in Goa, he said he had also spoken against the Hindutva now being practiced as against the Hindutva preached by Swami Vivekananda. The media had ignored this aspect while highlighting his remarks on Islam, he said. He also refuted the charge that the country was heading towards fascism, a criticism levelled by Congress leader Arjun Singh, and said democracy was well-rooted in the country. He was confident that no Hindu organisation would pose a threat to the country’s unity, but if it did, there were laws to deal with it. Echoing the Prime Minister’s assurance, Mr Advani said the Centre would discharge to the “best of its ability” the responsibility cast on it under Art 355 by the House motion on Gujarat. He rejected Leader of the Opposition Manmohan Singh’s charge that there was “gross communalisation” of the Gujarat police, saying that such “sweeping condemnation” was not good. Mr Advani also dissociated himself from the reported remarks of VHP leader Ashok Singhal justifying the recent communal violence in Gujarat. “Whosoever says anything of this kind, the government condemns it and dissociates from it.” Mr Advani said by the violence in Gujarat either by Hindus or Muslims, the country has given a cause for temporary satisfaction to elements in Pakistan to be happy. But, he felt, this could only be temporary and India would ultimately win the war against terrorism. He said the government was in possession of intercepts after the Godhra incident which showed that elements in Pakistan were directing economic assistance to those indulging in violence in the state. Later, winding up the 17-hour debate, Mr Arjun Singh said Chief Minister Narendra Modi should be removed to restore confidence among the people. He wanted an inquiry into the Gujarat violence by a Supreme Court judge as the present inquiry appointed by the state government was a “drama and trash”. There were also some acrimonious scenes witnessed as Mr Arjun Singh quoted the figures put forward by Law Minister Arun Jaitley.  |
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PM
rejects Omar’s resignation New Delhi, May 6 Mr Abdullah said today he had spoken to the Prime Minister last evening on his response to his resignation made on April 30 in the wake of the decision taken by his party, the National Conference, to abstain from voting on the Opposition-sponsored censure motion on Gujarat. “The Prime Minister told me to continue with my work,” he said. Mr Omar Abdullah said his plans to return to Jammu and Kashmir could be delayed and that he might remain in the Cabinet even after taking over the party.
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Admit motion against George, say Oppn MPs New Delhi, May 6 Taking serious exception to Mr Fernandes’s remarks that rape against women have taken place in communal riots in the past, too, the Opposition MPs said the Defence Minister was giving an impression that it was not a serious matter. The Defence Minister made these remarks while participating in the discussions on the Opposition-sponsored censure motion under Rule 184 on Gujarat in the Lok Sabha last week. The Deputy Speaker said privilege notice in this regard given by the CPM member, Ms
A.K. Premajam, was under his consideration and that he would give his ruling on its admission shortly. This did not satisfy the agitated opposition who wanted that the CPM member be permitted to raise the issue in the House. Her party colleague, Mr Somnath
Chaterjee, said Ms Premajam was quoting from the official records of the House and, therefore, should be permitted to make her submission. Mr Sayeed urged the Opposition members not to set a wrong precedent in the House and that they should await his decision. Raising the matter during zero hour today, Ms Premajam (CPM) sought to know from the Deputy Speaker the status of the privilege notice she had given against Mr
Fernandes. She was supported by Congress members with Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi wanting to know what the notice was about while his party colleague Buta Singh wanted it to be sent to the Privileges Committee. Mr Sayeed ruled: “I have read your notice. It is under consideration. This did not satisfy the agitated Opposition who wanted that the CPM member be permitted to raise the issue in the House. Her party colleague Mr Somnath Chaterjee said Ms Premajam was quoting from the official records of the House and, therefore, permitted to make her submission. |
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Ten hurt in bus bomb blast
Godhra (Gujarat), May 6 The incident took place at 1200 hours when the bus, scheduled for
Malvan, was parked at the stand for the 30-odd passengers to board, the police said. Five of the injured were in serious condition and shifted to the Civil Hospital. The injured included bus conductor Hirabhai
Vanand. The incident has spread panic and tension in the Lunavada town and its surrounding areas. Eyewitness reports stated that the explosion could have occurred in the abandoned baggage of a passenger who had got down earlier. A crude bomb was thrown at a mosque by some unidentified persons in the curfew-bound Mirzapur locality of Ahmedabad this afternoon, triggering tension in the area. The bomb exploded on the road outside the mosque, where prayers were on. No one was injured in the blast. However, tension gripped the area after the incident with mobs taking to the streets. The police had to fire to tear gas shells, to
disperse the mob. Meanwhile, with one more person succumbing to injuries, the death toll in yesterday’s violence here has gone up to eight, even as an indefinite curfew continued in Danilimda and Shahpur police station areas. The situation in the trouble-torn areas of Danilimda, Kagdapeth, Maninagar, Shahpur and Madhupura police station areas was under control. Shops and houses were set on fire by irate mobs in Danilimda areas and at least three persons were set ablaze by mobs in Maninagar and Kagdapeth areas. Over 40 persons received injuries, 12 of them in police firing in Danilimda areas, including Behrampura locality.
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