2 May 2002

GOVT GOOGLY FLOORS OPPOSITION MOTION ON GUJARAT VIOLENCE

From Jal Khambata

NEW DELHI: In an unexpected cunning googly, the Vajpayee Government on Thursday averted its sure defeat in the Rajya Sabha in voting on a motion on the Gujarat violence by adopting it and wanting the House to pass it unanimously.

The diplomatic shot to save the government's face came from External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh immediately after Congress member Arjun Singh finished his 45-minute opening remarks on the motion.

"The Government shares sentiments of the motion totally in letter and spirit," Jaswant Singh told a stunned Opposition as he said the Government also agrees with the motion urging upon the Centre to act under Article 355 of the Constitution to protects lives and property of citizens.

"Home Ministry and others have already taken steps as per Article 355 and will continue to take steps necessary," Jaswant Singh said, pointing out that the Government shares the anguish expressed in the motion "totally."

The Opposition need not be surprised as Jaswant Singh pointed out that the "phraseology" of the motion agreed upon to end the deadlock of seven days was the "collective decision of all" and hence has the government's consent right from that day.

All that was left after Jaswant Singh's googly in the day-long debate is charges and counter-charges between the ruling and the opposition benches as the Opposition's plans to use its majority to pass the motion to embarrass the government stand frustrated.

The motion expresses anguish at the communal carnage in Gujarat, calls upon the Centre to protect lives and property of citizens under Article 355 and ensure speedy relief and rehabilitation to the victims.

Expressing concern that the Republic may disintegrate the way the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party was emulating the Hitler to assert supremacy of the Hindu race as seen in the attacks on the minority in Gujarat, Arjun Singh wanted to know why the Centre was reluctant to accept even a vital recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission for a CBI probe into the Godhra train burning and other main incidents of violence in Gujarat.

Arjun Singh said NHRC better move the Supreme Court to get the directives issued to the Centre if it refuses to act on its recommenations. He said the people had given a democratic opportunity to the BJP to rule at the Centre and in many states but they started withdrawing their mandate as seen from the continuous defeat of the BJP in elections. The communal carnage in Gujarat was nothing but "going back to basics" as the BJP believes it has no other way to stop the fast erosion of its base. END