Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani on Gujarat

Crime Against Humanity 
Volume I An inquiry into the carnage in Gujarat 
List of Incidents and Evidence 
By Concerned Citizens Tribunal -Gujarat 2002
Incidents of Post-Godhra Violence

Annexure 12 
Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani on Gujarat

ADVANI GIVES “BEST CM” CERTIFICATE TO MODI

From Jal Khambata

New Delhi, 24 July 2002: Going a step further from previous night’s snub to the Oppo-sition in the Lok Sabha that Chief Minister Narendra Modi needs not their “certificate” butthat of the people of Gujarat, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani on Wednesday toldthe Rajya Sabha that Modi has turned out to be “the best Chief Minister in the last halfcentury.”

His certificate of the “best Chief Minister” was based on his contention that Modi had“sternly” dealt with the communal violence with a firm hand, proving himself to do the bestpossible under the given conditions.

Advani was replying to a short-duration debate on the Gujarat situation that had begunTuesday noon and continued for most part of the day even as the Lok Sabha was adjournedfor the day in memory of Congress member Atmaram Patel from Gujarat who died onTuesday.

The Opposition staged a walk-out protesting that they did not want Advani’s certificate forModi but they had expected his response to the debate issue as to what steps had been taken bythe Government in pursuance of the motion adopted by the Rajya Sabha on May 6 to inter-vene in Gujarat under Article 355 of the Constitution of India.

Braving repeated interruptions and noisy scenes, Advani asserted that the conditions in Gujaratwere quite conducive for holding elections and there was no reason for the Centre to interveneany further under Article 355 or Article 356.

He also sought to allay the Opposition’s fears that the minority frightened by the communalviolence may not be able to exercise their franchise if the polls were held soon before thesituation normalises. He said the Centre stands committed to ensure free and fair elections inthe state. The Opposition was, however, unimpressed as members interrupted to accuse theGovernment trying to capitalise on the communal violence in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, the Congress criticised Advani for “continuing to glorify his protege hardcoreModi and his discredited regime.” His “certificate” of the best CM bestowed on Modi was“shocking” as it was based on an absurd claim, party spokesman Anand Sharma affirmed atthe daily Press briefing.

As the country’s Home Minister, Advani was supposed to have a balanced view but heseems to have lost his balance “by treating his disciple (Modi) even above the Constitution,”Anand said, adding that it was true that there had been no Chief Minister in the past 50 years who had presided over a regime with perceived complicity in the communal carnage.Anand Sharma said the same Advani had said just two weeks ago in Ahmedabad that thesituation was not normal and the fear and insecurity among the people persists on account ofthe communal violence that rocked Gujarat. His new stand that the situation was conducive forthe polls, Sharma added.

Advani praises Modi’s Gujarat Gaurav Yatra

15 & 16 September, 2002: Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kischenchand Advani on Sundaygave Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi a ‘pat on the back’, while praising his much-criticised Gujarat Gaurav Yatra saying it was the ‘need of the hour’, and the popular response toit was unnerving the opposition.

“When the opposition parties denigrate Gujarat as ‘Godse’s Gujarat’, the need for restoringGujarat’s gaurav [honour] is all the more important,” he said addressing office bearers in ameeting of the party in New Delhi.

Describing the yatra as a ‘highly successful programme’, Advani said the party must nowwork to ensure that its Gaon Chalo Abhiyan [Go to the village campaign] and the proposedDecember rally in the capital also turns out equally successful.

Referring to the criticism of Modi within the party, he cautioned the members to be carefuland maintain unity. “As a ruling party, we are under the microscope. Therefore, our politicalbehaviour must strive for idealism,” he said.

The criticism surfaced when Gujarat revenue minister Haren Pandya had resigned from thestate Cabinet following differences with Modi, which was later sorted out with central inter-vention, even as Modi’s predecessor and poll campaign in-charge Keshubhai Patel had recentlystated that elected legislatures would chose their leader as against the projection of Modi as achief ministerial candidate..

Advani has been taking active interest in party affairs of late, following the BJP’s debacle inUttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and other places and made changes in the party, including the changeof leadership and rejuvenation of the organisation at the state level.

The deputy prime minister said that in the last three months, a new sense of confidence hasgrown in the party. “The party’s activities, its zonal conferences, the political programmes, havemade the opposition jittery. The hostility of the opposition is the result of the successfulprogramme of the BJP,” he said.

— http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/sep/15adv.htm

Gujarat a blot, admits Advani (excerpts)

London, Aug. 22: ...Mr Advani, who is on his trip abroad after being elevated to the postthe deputy prime minister, also said, “If all the countries in Europe can put aside their differ-ences and come together, then why can’t Indian Pakistan and Bangladesh do the same.”The deputy prime minister described the Gujarat violence as an indefensible issue. “Gujaratis a blot on the government. It is something indefensible. I just cannot defend it. We (PrimeMinister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Mr Advani) were outraged and shocked by the violence.”

... The deputy prime minister unveiled a bust of India’s Iron Man, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,at the Indian high commission on Wednesday. Speaking in chaste Hindi, he described howSardar Patel integrated the 500-odd princely states into India after Partition.

In the background, meanwhile, a group that had gathered outside the Indian high commission building incentral London held placards and shouted slogans against the deputy prime minister, blaming him and the BJPfor the recent riots in Gujarat. The protesters were fromorganisations such as South Asia Solidarity, India Muslim Council UK and South Asia Watch.Inside, Mr Advani dismissed reports that Sardar Patel was anti-Muslim, and quoted scholarRafiq Zakaria and Jai Prakash Narayan to illustrate. The bust was donated by the Sardar PatelMemorial Society in London.

Later, addressing a select group of guests at the high commissioner’s residence here, MrAdvani praised NRIs for their contributions in their adopted countries. He used his skill as agood storyteller to show how Indians abroad excelled in their professions. Mr Advani alsoreflected on how cynicism hampered progress in India and urged people to be positive in theirattitude.

— http://www.asianage.com/main.asp?layout=2&cat1=1&cat2=22&newsid=16438

BJP can no longer claim providing riot-free Govt: Advani

Press Trust of India

Bhopal, September 04: Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani on Wednesday said becauseof the violence in Gujarat after the Godhra incident, the BJP can now no longer claim that italways provided riot-free Governments.

Advani said before the Gujarat incidents, he had claimed both in Parliament and outside thatno violence ever took place in states, ruled by BJP.

“But all this has now changed because of Gujarat,” Advani said in his address on the open-ing day of the two-day meeting of BJP MLAs and office-bearers from Madhya Pradesh,Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Goa.

He said the Vajpayee Government at the Centre had done excellent work since 1998 andurged party workers to tell people all over the country about its achievements in various fields.— http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_58871,00080004.htm 287