Joint panel on ATR fails to enthuse Cong

NEW DELHI, November 18: Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral's proposal on the formation of a committee comprising senior leaders of the Congr...

NEW DELHI, November 18: Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral’s proposal on the formation of a committee comprising senior leaders of the Congress and the United Front (UF) to vet the Action Taken Report (ATR) on the findings of the Jain Commission has not found favour among the hawks in the Congress Party.

Gujral is learnt to have suggested the formation of the core group at his one-to-one meeting with Congress president Sitaram Kesri on Sunday over lunch. Gujral’s formula was aimed at warding off an immediate threat to his Government which has arisen after the Congress pressure to oust the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Gujral initially was willing to consider a suggestion by Kesri that the DMK should not be represented in this core group as it has been indicted by the commission. But later, expressed his inability saying that this would tantamount to giving a verdict against the DMK even before giving it a chance to explain its position.

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Kesri had conveyed to Gujral that vocal members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and parliamentary party would not accept anything less than the ouster of the DMK, as the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi was a “serious matter”.

Gujral clarified that his Government has made no attempt to either discredit the findings of the Jain Commission or find fault. Since this is an interim report as per the chairman of the Commission, the Government will take time to form a view. However, its decision to present an ATR is an indication that his Government is serious about the issue.

Kesri told Gujral that he would have to consult the CWC on the issue and also take into consideration the views of the CPP before finalising the party’s response to the proposal.y

National Conference (NC), National Conference (NC), Imran Nabi Dar, Rajya Sabha polls, Sat Sharma, People’s Conference, BJP, Indian express news, current affairs

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