Art 355, or is it? Centre sends a 145;message146;

In view of the continuing violence against the Christian community in Orissa and Karnataka...

In view of the continuing violence against the Christian community in Orissa and Karnataka, the Centre on Friday sent 8220;messages8221; to the two state governments, directing them to take immediate steps to ensure that peace and normalcy are restored.

In its 8220;message8221; to Karnataka, the Centre said it was a matter of serious concern that while violent incidents and intimidation of minority community were continuing, the people behind such incidents were roaming freely.

8220;It has generated the perception that adequate measures to bring the situation fully under control and effective action against those responsible for the violence, vandalism etc are not being taken by the state Government,8221; the Home Ministry said in a statement. 8220;The Centre has stressed that this kind of situation cannot be allowed to continue.8221;

However, the statement only added to the confusion prevailing over whether the Centre had invoked Article 355, a rarely-used provision supposed to be a mandatory option before dismissing a state government.

In a swift reaction, Karnataka confirmed receipt of the advisory and said it was 8220;hasty and politically motivated8221;. Home Minister V S Acharya said the situation in the state was now normal.

Orissa Chief Minister too saw political motive in the Centre8217;s move. 8220;When there are disturbances in many parts of the country, they Centre have chosen two states where the Congress is not ruling,8221; Naveen Patnaik said. He also accused the UPA Government of being slow in sending security forces.

Earlier, in Delhi, the Union Home Ministry first issued a statement in the morning, saying the Centre had sent an 8220;advisory8221; to Karnataka on Thursday night. There was no mention of Orissa. By evening, there was another statement which said a 8220;message8221; had been sent to Karnataka on Friday. It said the Centre had also written to Orissa, as well as Madhya Pradesh and some other state governments.

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A senior Cabinet minister confirmed to reporters 8220;off the record8221; that Article 355 had indeed been invoked. Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal also admitted as much in the morning before television cameras, only to retract in the evening, saying only a directive was given.

In Karnataka, however, AICC general secretary Margaret Alva, who visited some of sensitive areas, said the Centre had issued a notice under Article 355.

With talk of Article 355 doing the rounds, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Friday ordered a judicial probe into the attacks, to be conducted by a retired high court judge. In an acknowledgement of the role of the right wing in the attacks, Karnataka Home Minister Acharya said: 8220;We will not allow the Bajrang Dal to take the law into their hands.8221;