Privilege motion could be moved against Pathak

New Delhi, May 18: Irked over BJP leader Hiren Pathak's remark that the Doda killings were the result of ''state sponsored communal terrorism'', Home Minister Shivraj Patil today warned that a privilege motion could be brought against Mr Pathak or else he should prove the charge.

'' I am objecting to the statement. If he makes a wrong statement, he will be required to prove it,'' Mr Patil said during a discussion in the Lok Sabha on communal violence in the country under Rule 193.

The Home Minister, who was visibly upset with Mr Pathak's remark, said Mr Pathak was intruding in the area which would prove difficult for him.

Mr Patil's intervention came when Mr Pathak charged that the Jammu and Kashmir government had failed to protect minority community members who he said had been targeted. '' The state government has connived with the police and bureaucrats to target them,'' the BJP leader said, adding, ''at least 40 Hindus were killed between May 1 and 17.'' Reacting sharply to Mr Patil's warning, the BJP members rose on their feet, saying they would also bring a privilege motion against CPI(M) member Basudev Achariya, who moved the discussion and had repeatedly referred to ''the 2002 state-sponsored terrorism'' in Gujarat which left as many as 1100 people dead, thousands homeless and women raped.

CPI veteran and Party Floor leader Gurudas Dasgupta, turning tables on Mr Pathak with his own argument, said Mr Pathak's reference to J&K had expanded the discussion beyond the subject.

''I find Mr Pathak's remark of inciting nature, which is unparliamentary. We can hold a different discussion on other subjects,'' the CPI leader said, adding the Municipal Corporation in Vadodra should have behaved in a '' more responsible and judicious manner knowing fully well that the demolition of the dargarh was a very sensitive issue''.

Mr Dasgupta, quoting Mr Pathak's own statement that Gujarat had a history of communal riots and that several such events had occurred even during the Congress governments, said the authorities should have exercised more restraint.

UNI