Bangaru Laxman favours President's rule in West Bengal

MIDNAPORE, SEPT. 23. The BJP president, Mr. Bangaru Laxman, today supported the demand for imposition of the President's rule under Article 356 of the Constitution in West Bengal describing the situation in the State as ``very serious''. There is enough weight in the demand for imposition of Article 356, Mr. Laxman told presspersons after meeting violence-affected people of three Gram panchayats under Debra police station.

Mr. Laxman met people at a refugee camp in west Lahana village where the inmates narrated their woes and sufferings allegedly at the hands of the CPI(M) activists. He said these people were living in the open without food and shelter and faced a constant threat from the CPI(M) goons.

A visibly moved Mr. Laxman said that apart from supporting the demand for the President's rule he would apprise the Centre about the extent of damage to life and property of the people of this district. ``I would like to make it clear that if the State Government does not change itself and stop this policy of suppression I would suggest that the Centre should intervene to ensure that the State Government is sent packing. There is every justification for intervention of the Centre,'' he said. About the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes' report, he said it was based on his personal ``horrific experience''. Replying to a question, Mr. Laxman said Mr. Fernandes was all along accompanied during his tour of the affected areas by the Midnapore District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police. State BJP president, Mr. Ashim Ghosh, vice-president, Mr. Muzaffar Khan and the Communications Minister, Mr. Tapan Sikdar, accompanied Mr. Laxman today.

Poser to Sonia

The BJP chief asked the Congress (I) president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, to spell out her party's stand on the imposition of Article 356 in West Bengal.Aware of the difficulties the Central Government faced in getting such a move passed in the Rajya Sabha where the NDA did not have a majority, he said, ``it all depends on the Congress. I want to know if the Congress president is prepared to support if we impose Article 356. If they support it, I will prevail upon the NDA partners to support it''. To another question if the BJP approved the imposition of Central rule in principle, Mr. Laxman said if the NDA approved, the BJP also approved it.

- UNI, PTI

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