BJP to support any bill to bring UP under President's rule

New Delhi, Feb 19 (UNI) The BJP today offered to support any Bill to bring the state under under President's rule to justify its demand for sacking the Uttar Pradesh government.

BJP President Rajnath Singh, himself a former Chief Minister of the state said the inability of the government to bring the state under President's rule was because the Congress wanted to save its government at the centre by not risking the withdrawal of support by Communists. Otherwise what else can be the reason for not sacking the government after several serious bunglings in upholding the law and order situation in the state.

Two national parties wanted to bring the state under President's rule but it was the fear of losing Communist support that was preventing the Government from acting, Mr Singh told newspersons.

The law and order situation in the state was out of control for at least one-and-a-half years and the BJP had offered its support to any Bill in Parliament to set things right in the country's biggest state in terms of population. The government has failed to preserve and defend its 'Constitutional responsibility' and uphold the rule of law in the state, he said.

He said the BJP had taken a delegation to President A P J Abdul Kalam asking him to bring the state under Governor's rule but he could not act without the UPA Cabinet's advise. The Centre is worried about its own stability and does not want to act, he said.

Asked if the BJP too was not responsible for installing the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh and its UP President Kesri Nath Tripathi was the then Speaker in the Assembly who allowed the Samajwadi Party backed by 'defectors' to ascend to power, Mr Singh denied there was any understanding between his party and the SP. He said Mr Tripathi was already in the Speaker's post and had demitted his office once the new Speaker was elected. The situation changed once the Supreme Court disqualified the membership of the defecting MLAs.

He reiterated the BJP was against misusing Article 356 of the constitution, providing for sacking of an elected government and bringing the state under President's rule for 'political reasons'.

Look at the law and order situation and the way the government wants to cover up Nithari killings! he said.

When reminded of NDA Convenor George Fernandes opposing the move to bring UP under President's rule, the BJP President said he was speaking in his 'personal capacity' and there had been no discussion within the NDA on the issue.

UNI