No rethinking on Bihar, says Arjun

Alleging that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has “taken over the state apparatus”, Singh denied suggestions that his party was bargaining with the Centre on the issue of replacing the state Governor. “I don’t think Congress believes in any bargaining,” he said.

“We don’t need any commendation from any party,” he said referring to claims of BJP and Samata Party that bailing out the RJD Government would deprive Congress of future votes from Dalits.

“Our party has had a longhistory of working for the interest of Dalits. Congress has always gone to the farthest extend to ensure their welfare,” he said.

On some reports about a section of Congress leaders opposing the decision to bail out the Rabri Devi Government, Singh said “I cannot comment on what each leader is thinking.”

In a related development, senior Congress leader Motilal Vora has said the resolution on imposition of President’s Rule in Bihar should put forward in the Rajya Sabha, to avoid confusion on the issue.

Speaking to newsmen in Lucknow on Saturday, Vora said the same people who were earlier vocal on upholding constitutional norms were now unable to adhere to it. When the ordinance has been passed by the Lok Sabha, then the same should also be tabled before the Rajya Sabha, he said.

He criticised Home Minister L K Advani for creating confusion that the latter has devised three alternatives — either the bill is not tabled in the Rajya Sabha, or table it in the Upper House and end its duration or waitfor the court’s verdict.

In reply to a question, Vora said the Congress was opposing the President’s Rule in Bihar as the Centre did not take the Opposition into confidence before imposing it. Just to draw political mileage, Article 356 was imposed in the state on the basis of the Governor’s report, he added.

He said a Home Ministry team sent to Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat had recommended imposition of President’s Rule in these states, but it was not done.

Vora said, despite President’s Rule in Bihar, collective killing continues unabated there. It signifies the Centre’s failure on the state, and it seemed that Advani got Presidents’ Rule imposed in the state just to remove the Governor, he added.

When asked whether his party would accept Rabri Devi as the chief minister in case the Rashtriya Janata Dal government is restored back to power, Vora said that it is for the party high command to decide.

When asked that Congressmen in Bihar were displeased at the possibility of the reinstatementof the Rabri Devi government, Vora replied that whatever Sonia Gandhi decides the partymen would accept it.

When pointed out that the Congress used Article 356 when it was in power, Vora replied that the article was used only for those states where the law and order situation was beyond control and where the constitutional machinery totally failed.

BJP renews appeal

BANGALORE: The BJP on Saturday renewed its appeal to the Congress to reconsider its stand on imposition of President’s Rule in Bihar as jungle raj’ prevailed in that state and the constitutional machinery had collapsed. BJP general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu made the appeal while inaugurating the two-day executive committee meeting of the state unit here.

Accusing the Congress and some Opposition parties of adopting double standards on the issue, he said the government would act as per the Constitution. “We want elections in Bihar. President’s Rule is only a stop gap arrangement. Let the people elect a popular government. Thesystem has become rotten and bureaucracy is demoralised,” he said and added that Bihar needed a political surgery’.