NDA For President's Rule

NDA today recommended imposition of President's rule in Tamil Nadu in thewake of arrest of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and two Union MinnistersMurasoli Maran and T R Balu.

Earlier, the three-member NDA fact-finding team today endorsed the demand forimposition of President's Rule in Tamil Nadu saying there was constitutionalbreakdown in the state even as the Union Cabinet deferred by a day any furtheraction on the issue.

The Union Cabinet, which was to meet today to consider the situation arisingout of the arrest of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and two CentralMinisters, Murasoli Maran and T R Baalu, postponed it to tomorrow when HomeMinister L K Advani will also return from his foreign trip to participate in thediscussions. The Attorny-General Soli Sorabjee has also been called, making himcut short his London visit.

The team, led by NDA Convener George Fernandes, submitted its report to PrimeMinister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ahead of the NDA meeting, which came out stronglyin support of "stern and exemplary action" against the AIADMKgovernment. Several constituents demanded Central Rule.

In the report, the team said they saw "justification and strength"in the demand of various political parties including DMK and BJP to invokeArticle 356 and dismiss the Jayalalitha government as there was"breakdown" of Constitution in the state.

"We believe that by arresting two members of the Union Cabinet, theChief Minister of Tamil Nadu has opened the doors of anarchy as no one person orpolitical party had done since independence.

"If these are not shut immediately, the country may have to face anunprecedented assault on its unity and integrity. This is what makes us seejustification and strength in the demand (of President's Rule) of theseparties," the four-page report said.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Fernandes suggested that the NDA wasnot satisfied with the state government's decision to release the two Ministersas the cases and the charges against them had not been dropped.

"It is not just a question of dropping the charges. Whoever isresponsible -- police or other officials -- should be brought to book forcommitting such brutalities. Even animals are not dealt like this. They have notdone any favour (by deciding to release the ministers)," a visibly angryFernandes said.

To repeated questions on what he meant by "exemplary" action, hesaid "there are number of options. And Article 356 is one of them."Asked whether there was unanimity on invoking Article 356, Fernandes said"everyone wanted stern action .... there was a felt demand that 356 needsto be considered. One cannot allow anyone to play with the Constitution andchallenge the authority of the Government at the Centre." To a query, hehoped that Government would take "an appropriate decision" tomorrowfollowing the deliberations at the NDA meeting.

In reply to a question, Fernandes, once a staunch opponent of use of Article356, said in the backdrop of what is happening in Tamil Nadu he was not opposedto its imposition. "In these circumstances, democracy in the country has tobe preserved at all costs." Fernandes also made a scathing attack onCongress for opposing Central Rule in Tamil Nadu and dubbed it "a party ofEmergency". He said the opposition of the Congress to Central rule in TamilNadu would not really make any difference as regards taking a decision on theissue.

"It is for the government to take whatever decision it deems necessaryto restore the rule of law and enforce the Constitution in Tamil Nadu and tosecure the release of those who have become victims of a single person'smaniacal disposition," the report said.

The NDA team said "from political leaders to mediapersons and fromintellectuals to labourers, Tamil Nadu is presently living in terror of aconvicted person, not elected to the legislative assembly, yet functioning asChief Minister and defying and defiling the Constitution of the country.

Fernandes described as a "big fraud" the case registered againstKarunanidhi in the flyover scam maintaining that the matter came under thejurisdiction of the Chennai Municipal Corporation and at no stage did it involvethe former Chief Minister.

He alleged that the Commissioner, who had got the case registered againstKarunanidhi, was himself facing trial on charges of corruption and had beenimprisoned.

"The diabolical manner in which the Chief Minister has subverted theConstitution and made mockery of the rule of law to fix Karunanidhi becomesobvious from the way the complaint, on the basis of which Karunanidhi and someothers have been arrested in what has been trumpeted as the 'flyover scam', wascooked up." Those who attended the meeting included External AffairsMinister Jaswant Singh, Finance Minister Yashwantr Sinha, Law Minister ArunJaitley (all BJP), Arjun Charan Sethi (BJD), S S Dhindsa (Akali Dal), SureshPrabhu (Shiv Sena) and Ram Vilas Paswan (Lok Janshakti).

Opposition parties warn against President's Rule

Condemning the recall of Tamil Nadu Governor Fathima Beevi, major oppositionparties today warned the Centre against imposition of President's Rule in thestate with Congress asserting that there was no breakdown of constitutionalmachinery in the state.

Cautioning the Centre against taking any "arbitrary action", theopposition parties deplored the National Democratic Alliance constituents fordemanding dismissal of the Jayalalithaa Government and accused the Centre ofgiving a "political motivated twist" to the Tamil Nadu developments.

Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy told reporters that those in the NDA whowere making such a demand were "not objective or impartial".

CPI(M) Polit Bureau in a statement said imposition of President's Rule or useof Article 355 would amount to "gross misuse" of Constitutionalprovisions by the Centre.

It said since the AIADMK and its allies swept to power, to act against thestate government with such a popular mandate "will be a grave assault ondemocracy".

CPI alleged that BJP-DMK combine was deliberately building up a case forcentral intervention in the state and said the "subjective andbelligerent" statements by BJP leaders "give a clear indication ofthis sinister design".

In Pondicherry, the Secular Front headed by the ruling Congress expressedconcern over the Centre's decision to recall the Tamil Nadu Governor, while inBangalore Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowdacharged the Centre with treating Governors as "pawns".