Paswan welcomes Centre's warning

Puducherry, Sep 20: Welcoming the Union Government for issuing advisories under article 355 of the constitution to Orissa and Karnataka governments, Lok Jansakthi party leader and Union Steel, Chemical and Fertilizer Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Saturday, Sep 20 said the Centre had the power to invoke article 355 or 356 of the constitution.

Addressing a press conference herey, he said if the state governments failed to follow the constitutional paths, article 356 could be invoked.

He ridiculed the Karnataka government for appointing a retired judge instead of a sitting judge to head the Judicial Commission to go into the attack on places of worship.

Stating that blasts at several places in the country was unfortunate, Mr Paswan said his party strongly condemn the incidents. He, however, said that in the name of terrorism some people should not be victimised and pointed out that within half an hour of a blast, a sketch of the suspected culprit was being released.

First of all, all facts should be collected and action taken so that there will not be any lack of evidence in the courts, he added.

Referring to the attack on people of minority communities and places of worship in Orissa, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, Mr Paswan demanded that the Bajrang Dal which claimed that they did it along with the VHP and RSS, be banned.

He suggested that the Union Government should constitute a high power committee comprising members from all walks of life and all religion to go into the issue and those found working against the interest of the nation be suitably punished.

UNI