New Delhi Note Book

VINOD DHAWAN

INDIA POST SOUTH ASIA BUREAU

Center Wants to Intervene in UP, Fears Vajpayee

NEW DELHI: Succumbing to pressure from Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Defense Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta has written a letter to the UP Government expressing concern at the law and order situation in the State. Another SP leader, Union Communications Minister Beni Prasad Varma has reportedly warned the BJP-BSP coalition Government to ‘either mend its ways or face intervention’ by the Center. "The Center," he said, "would not remain a mute spectator to the persecution of SP workers."

Earlier, Mulayam Singh himself had said there are enough grounds to dismiss UP Government.

This development has raised the hackles of the BJP and BSP and their leaders have reacted with a degree of vehemence. BJP leader and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee fears that the United Front (UF) Government is preparing the ground for dismissing the Mayawati-led BJP-BSP Government in Uttar Pradesh.

Vajpayee’s apprehension stems from the reported resolution by the UF Steering Committee urging the Union Government to ensure a ‘fair deal’ to all citizens of UP. The BJP leader warned the Center of serious consequences if the UP Government was dismissed.

Speaking to newspersons he expressed surprise that the UF Steering Committee had asked the Center to interfere in the affairs of a State which had an elected Government.

"The BJP-BSP Government has brought considerable improvement in the law and order situation in the State, which had touched a new low during President’s rule," he said.

At the same time, he wondered at the Committee’s silence on lawlessness in Bihar where the Chief Minister himself was threatening bloodshed.

"The UF resolution," Vajpayee said, "made a mockery of federalism and democracy and the committee demonstrated its ignorance of the rule of law. It should have asked for the Governor’s report and the Home Ministry’s opinion before adopting such a resolution on UP.Vajpayee conveyed his displeasure to the Home Minister over telephone. He pointed out that Gupta’s letter was uncalled for and a clear indication of capitulation of the UF Government to ‘arm-twisting’ by Defense Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

In a statement issued in New Delhi, Vajpayee warned the UF Government of "dire consequences if the Center tried to play with the sentiments of the people in UP."

Describing the letter as "a mischief afoot at the Center," Vajpayee said the BJP would not allow the gameplan of the UF to succeed.

Justifying the UP Government’s action, Vajpayee said that what had upset Mulayam Yadav was the State administration’s crackdown on history-sheeters and criminals who also happen to be his party workers." The BJP leader affirmed that action was being taken against the criminals who had been allowed the free run of Uttar Pradesh during the President’s rule.

"No less reprehensible is the Home Minister’s directive to his deputy, Mohammed Maqbool Dar, to look into the specific cases of 26 Samajwadi Party workers booked under the National Security Act," he said, terming the step as interference in functioning of the State Government.

Ridiculing the United Front’s slogan for federalism, the BJP leader said the UF Government had given ample proof of its aversion to basic premise of the Constitution that the "law and order is a State subject."

He charged that the Center had attempted "blatant arm-twisting for the explicit purpose of appeasing Mr Yadav."

Reminding the Home Minister of "loot, murders and mayhem unleashed by Mulayam Singh Yadav’s men in Uttar Pradesh during President’s rule," Vajpayee said it was strange that the Home Minister was silent about the ‘Jungle rule’ in Bihar. He said, "His missive would have served an honorable purpose had it been dispatched to Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav."

BJP spokesman Yashwant Sinha also launched a scathing attack against the UF Government for targeting the BJP-BSP Government in UP to save its own skin. "The letter is a blatant example of partisanship by the Home Minister. There was no need for the Center to interfere in the law and order, an exclusive domain of the State Government," he said.

Referring to the statement of Minister Varma that the Center would not remain a mute spectator to the persecution of SP workers, Sinha said Varma had gone beyond his brief in his remarks. "All this exposes the hypocrisy of the UF Government which swears by federalism," Sinha said.

Mayawati Charges Samajwadi Part

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has, in her reply to the Union Home Ministry, charged the Samajwadi Party of "trying to tarnish the image of her Government for its narrow political gains."

She said the activities of the SP were far from responsible since it sought to rake up dormant issues. The Chief Minister said the allegations were made just to bring a bad name to her Government.

Amidst the reported threat of Central intervention, Mayawati’s letter claimed remarkable improvement in the law and order situation. Though it did not name the political party, the annexures attached to it made it amply clear that the Chief Minister singled out the Samajwadi Party and called it as an ‘irresponsible party.’

Obviously feeling concerned over Minister Beni Prasad Varma’s reported warning to the BJP-BSP coalition Government to either mend its ways or face intervention by the Center, the Chief Minister said that the Government had taken action against criminals, goondas, mafia and anti-social elements without being vindictive against any political party.

She referred to the special drive launched April 8-May 23 to prevent crime and said it had helped in the improvement of the law and order situation in the State as compared to the corresponding periods during the last two years.

Center’s Action May Help BSP-BJP

Although the BJP has been making a big noise over the Center's possible interference in Uttar Pradesh, some party leaders privately hold that it may not be such a bad thing after all. Such an action in fact would be most beneficial to the BJP.

This kind of interference would help in the consolidation of the BJP-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance in the State, and also its extension elsewhere in the country, one of them admitted.

For instance, in the East Delhi parliamentary by-election, being described as an acid test for both the BJP and anti-BJP forces, the BJP’s star campaigners were BSP Chief Kanshi Ram and BSP General Secretary Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. Kanshi Ram appealed to the electorate to vote for the BJP negatively, asking them to reject the United Front as "it has people who brought goondaism into politics." BJP leaders themselves emphasized that this would be a vote for the BJP, or against anti-BJP forces.

Other BJP leaders privately admit that the understanding in East Delhi is likely to be cemented as the BSP would be increasingly identified with the BJP. BJP President LK Advani and other senior leaders had worked overtime to ensure that the BSP supported BJP candidate Lal Behari Tiwari.

These leaders also hold that the Central Government would not do anything that would help such a consolidation. Home Minister Gupta’s letter to UP Chief Minister Mayawati, seeking explanation on the complaint of Defense Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, is thus mere sabre rattling -- just a gesture intended to please Yadav.

Kesri Might Win But With Wings Clipped

After initial hesitation, quite in keeping with his style, Maharashtra strongman Sharad Pawar has entered the race for the Congress President’s post for which the election is slated for June 9.

Even though Kesri’s supporters maintained a brave face, claiming their leader had a clear edge in the electoral college, they fear that Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and former Union Minister Rajesh Pilot might withdraw in favor of Pawar. The possibility of the formation of a Jagannath Mishra-Rajesh Pilot-Sharad Pawar axis is quite strong.

As nominations closed and the anti-Kesri camp alleged mass rigging in the electoral college list, it was clear that the advantage still lay with Kesri in the final run-up to the election. Kesri is expected to win but the contest will rob him of the satisfaction of having been elected unanimously. More important, he is not likely to be authorized to appoint the Congress Working Committee and the State bosses are going to make their own bilateral deals. So even if he wins his wings will be clipped.

In the final analysis, the calculating Pawar decided to contest and lose after giving Kesri a good fight than not to stand at all. He had to live down the reputation of being a ditherer. Many of his supporters would have deserted him if he had continued to stay away this time. Contesting the party polls at this stage will also help him acquire a hold on the organization and position himself firmly as the number two, even if he loses.

Skepticism however continues whether Pawar will remain in the race after the last date of withdrawal. His track record is such. This happened after Rajiv Gandhi’s death in 1991, when he was seen as a contender for Prime Minister, and more recently when he did not go through with the election for the leadership of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

An upbeat Pawar, however, is displaying some confidence this time. "I am sure the Congress workers will show what their thinking is. It will certainly be against the establishment," he added.

Pawar has assured all those whose support he has sought--PV Narasimha Rao, Pranab Mukherji and Jagannath Mishra--that there is no question of him retracing his steps this time.

An ominous warning being sounded by observers is that whenever an election has taken place in the Congress, the party has moved toward a split.

I&B Minister Floors

The new Information and Broadcasting Minister Jaipal Reddy is no CM Ibrahim. He knows what he is talking about. The other day he threw a googly which clean bowled his critics.

A group of foreigners associated with various foreign satellite channels called on the I&B Minister. Each individual was trying to impress upon him the importance ofess in broadcasting, since they said, the entire world was heading in that direction.

Reddy said the Indian bill was very similar to US broadcasting laws. "Isn’t it strange how much we copy your laws," he remarked, silencing his visitors at one stroke. The visitors were expressing unhappiness at foreign participation being limited to 49 per cent equity under the Indian broadcasting bill. But then the US laws do not allow more than 20 per cent foreign equity participation in such ventures.

The lesson from Reddy was: better practice what you preach!

Making Japan a Bihar in Three Days

BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee was at his witty best during his recent visit to Thiruvananthapuram. Referring to BSP leader Kanshi Ram’s recent remark terming the BJP a ‘cobra,’ Vajpayee said if the BJP was a cobra, Kanshi Ram was Lord Shiva round whose neck is coiled the legendary snake which adds strength and comfort to the Lord. And, it also protects Him.

Again, in his inimitable style, Vajpayee poked fun at Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav. Relating a story about the visit of a prominent Japanese industrialist, he said, the industrialist was horrified to see the situation in Bihar.

The Japanese, however, offered to make a Japan out of Bihar if he was handed the reins of the State for three months. Yadav when heard of this reportedly retorted that he could make a Bihar out of Japan in three days!

Karnataka CM Wants Beauties in the House

Karnataka Chief Minister JH Patel is becoming famous for his less than gallant remarks against women. Of late, he has been vocal in demanding reservation for women in Parliament and Legislatures as this would bring bright and beautiful faces to those bodies, which today have too many useless men. He says the presence of beautiful women would add to the grandeur of these Houses.

When he made these observations at a women’s convention in Bangalore, a former woman Minister wanted to know whether ugly women should have no place in Parliament and Legislatures.Patel shot back, "You too are beautiful. Some more, some less."

The women were left speechless.

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