Act instead of blaming us, Pranab tells Centre

By Javed M. Ansari

NEW DELHI, JAN. 10. The Congress Working Committee member and WBPCC president, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, has reacted sharply to the Bharatiya Janata Party's attempts to create the impression that the Congress was confused on the question of President's rule in West Bengal. ``It's for the Government to make its assessment and act. They should not put the blame for their inaction on others,'' said Mr. Mukherjee.

The WBPCC chief was reacting to the BJP vice-president Mr. Jana Krishnamurthy's statement yesterday asking the Congress to give its assessment of the situation in the State. The thrust of Mr. Mukherjee's argument was that it was for the Centre to make its assessment and act. ``If the Union Government feels that something needs to be done they should do it, they don't require the approval of the Congress.''

He said the BJP was trying to cover up for its inability to act, by portraying as if it was the Congress which was preventing the Government from acting. In case they want to impose President's rule, for two months they don't need either the Congress or Parliament approval,'' said Mr. Mukherjee.

The Government did not have the political will as it was unable to enlist the support of its allies like the DMK and the TDP and therefore was trying to put the onus on the Congress party. ``Since when have they started getting prior approval for their actions from us,'' the WBPCC chief said. As far as he was concerned the Congress did not come into the picture till the Centre decided on a course of action. ``We don't come into the picture, if as a Government they feel something needs to be done they should act,'' he added.

Mr. Mukherjee sought to pin down Mr. Krishnamurthy with his own arguments by asking if he felt that the situation was so bad that the Centre would be unable to put it right within two months. He called on the BJP to explain its position and make up its mind and not deflect attention to the Congress by suggesting that it was hampered by the position of the main Opposition party.

The WBPCC president said the BJP was merely trying to shy away from acting one way or the other because of the contradictions within the alliance. He said as far as his party was concerned it could not be expected to act in a vacuum. ``We can support action, not words , let them act and then come to us,'' Mr. Mukherjee.

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