Thursday, Apr 11, 2002
Thursday, Apr 11, 2002 |
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By Our Special Correspondent
On March 28, the Union Home Ministry had sent a fax to the Gujarat Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Ashok Narayanan, advising him to mobilise optimally the police resources of the State and to see to it that miscreants were not allowed to get away with murder. Prompt came the reply from Gandhinagar, arguing that total control had been established. In a reply dated April 1 (which was received in the North Block only a few days ago), the Gujarat Home Department has patted itself on the back. In fact, it asserted that compared to the communal violence of 1969 and 1985, the situation was brought under control within 72 hours. For good measure, Mr. Narayanan took the opportunity to request additional companies of para-military forces from the Centre. What has surprised North Block officials is that a senior IAS officer has opted to use the same language and arguments that the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, has been using. This total identification by the Gujarat IAS cadre with the political dispensation is being seen with considerable trepidation. It is being explained that perhaps one reason for the bureaucracy's unwillingness to respond to the Prime Minister's exhortation (that the officers must perform their duties) is the perception among senior bureaucrats that Mr. Modi continues to enjoy the total confidence of the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani. It is pointed out, for example, that Mr. Modi was "summoned'' on March 27 to New Delhi to do a bit of explaining. He came with his senior officers and all that these officers witnessed for themselves was the unusual spectacle of their Chief Minister addressing the Prime Minister as "Atalji'' and the Union Home Minister as "Advaniji''. They were "impressed" with the camaraderie their Chief Minister seemed to enjoy with the two senior leaders. They had, therefore, no reason to take seriously the communication sent by the Union Home Ministry the next day. It is believed that Mr. Advani continues to give the benefit of the doubt to Mr. Modi and is understood to have turned down the suggestion that he write a letter to Mr. Modi, asking him to do much more than was (or is) being done to restore law and order. Mr. Advani was not prepared to even gently rap Mr. Modi on the knuckles.
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