filtered in. The order created more than a flutter as it took away the shine from the deliberations, besides raising serious questions about Bihar Governor Buta Singh and the Union Cabinet’s decision.Congress President Sonia Gandhi conferred with senior leaders Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister Shivraj Patil as soon as she was informed about the apex court’s order.
The ministers were immediately on the hotline to their officials to get more details. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was in the Capital at that time, was also consulted on how to proceed further.
In New Delhi, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam sought a meeting with the Prime Minister and after his arrival in Chandigarh tonight, Dr Singh was huddled in a late night meeting with members of the core group as Bihar developments were clearly centrestage.
Their problems were further compounded after CPM leader Prakash Karat declared in Mumbai that the discretionary powers of Governors should go.
The Congress was clearly under pressure and though no firm decision was forthcoming till late tonight, Mr Buta Singh’s fate appeared to be hanging in the balance. Congress sources indicated that feelers were sent to the Governor to step down voluntarily but he was not agreeable to this proposal. However, the Congress is reluctant to remove him as the Union Cabinet was also party to the controversial decision to dissolve the Bihar Assembly.
However, a large section in the party does not want to rush in which any
decision and would prefer that the government buy time by waiting for the detailed Supreme Court order.
While these feverish consultations were continuing at Punjab
Bhavan, The venue of the conclave, Mrs Ambika Soni, AICC media department chief, put in a brief appearance at the
neighbouring Haryana Bhavan during the day where a huge media contingent was waiting anxiously for the first official word on the day’s developments.
Clearly embarrassed by the Supreme Court’s order, Mrs Soni, nevertheless, put up a brave face, repeatedly stating that the party would be able to formulate its response only after it had studied the detailed judgement.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who came in later, did not realise what he had bargained for as he was faced with an unusually hostile Press, which bombarded him with questions about the government’s next course of action. He started off responding quite patiently but virtually walked off in a huff 10 minutes later when the going got too tough for him.
The minister remained non-committal when asked about the Bihar Governor’s future. “Such momentous decisions are taken after due consideration.. I am not saying anything against any individual or the judgement at this stage,” Mr Patil said, adding that the court order and its implications would first have to be discussed with other ministerial colleagues.
He maintained he was in no position to comment on the Supreme Court order at this stage as they had yet to receive a detailed judgement. “What we have before us is the operative part… It is only an interim order,” Mr Patil reiterated, growing increasingly irritable as belligerent presspersons refused to back off.
Asked if the order was a reflection on the Cabinet, Mr Patil was at his evasive best. “Well, we have the order before us, it depends from which angle you look at it,” he replied, adding that the government had replied to all questions on this issue in Parliament which had also unanimously passed a resolution suspending the Bihar Assembly.
