M A I N   N E W S

SC stays demolition drive in Gujarat

New Delhi, May 4
Against the backdrop of violence in Vadodara following the demolition of a dargah, the Supreme Court today stayed a Gujarat High Court order to remove all religious structures encroaching upon the public land after the Centre intervened to seek an injunction.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Gopal Subramanian made an urgent mention of a special leave petition (SLP) before a Bench of Justice Ruma Pal and Justice Dalveer Bhandari seeking stay on the May 2 order of the High Court “in view of the extremely volatile situation prevalent in Vadodara”.

The Bench stayed the High Court order and issued notices to Gujarat Chief Secretary, state’s Director General of Police, Police Commissioners and Municipal Commissioners of Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and Development Authorities of these cities. — PTI

Curfew relaxed

Vadodara, May 4
Curfew was today relaxed for two hours for women and children in three areas of the city where violence has left six persons dead.

The curfew was relaxed at noon for two hours in Panigate, Karlibaug and Raopura areas of the city. In Vadi, covering about 50 police station areas, and Navapura, the curfew will be relaxed for women and children between 2.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m., Police Commissioner Deepak Swarup said. — PTI

Dargah demolition could have been avoided: Jaiswal
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 4
The Vadodara administration could have avoided the demolition of a dargah in view of the people’s sentiments associated with the old shrine, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal is understood to have stated in a report to the government.

Mr Jaiswal, who visited violence-torn Vadodara on Monday, is believed to have also said in his report that while the district administration has the right to launch drives to demolish illegal structures, decisions to raze religious places, which were centuries old, should be taken after due deliberations keeping in mind the sentiments of the people.

Despite the fear of a communal backlash, top administrative officials of Vadodara carried out the demolition as they feared action against them from the state capital if they dithered, the minister is understood to have stated.

The subsequent firing by the police to contain the mob violence following the demolition could also have been avoided, Mr Jaiswal is understood to have said.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry is examining whether the 300-year-old dargah that was demolished enjoyed a special status under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, that ensures status quo to religious places pre-dating August 15, 1947.

“I have nothing to say on the report. The foremost need is to contain the violence in Vadodara and bring peace and normalcy there. The Centre is willing to provide all necessary assistance to the Gujarat authorities to deal with the situation,” Mr Jaiswal told a group of newspersons here.

Asked if steps taken by the Centre to curb the violence came in the backdrop of post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002, Mr Jaiswal said, “The government always goes by experiences in the past...I have full confidence that the state authorities will take all measures required to quell the violence and restore peace”.

Mr Jaiswal, who returned to the Capital on Tuesday after an assessment of the situation in the trouble-torn city, submitted his report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil the same evening, sources said.