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Gujarat rail accident : Pelting of stones on Lalu |
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Over 20 people died during an accident involving the Sabarmati Express in Gujarat. The accident happened when the train rammed into a stationary goods train at a way side railway station near Vadodara. The accident in the normal course would have drawn attention to what critics call the lack of safety norms on the Indian Railways. But the attack by Bajrang Dal (an affiliate of the RSS) workers on Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav who had gone to the accident site to make an inspection enabled him to divert attention from the train tragedy. The issue rocked Parliament and the Centre criticised the Gujarat Government headed by Narendra Modi for not providing adequate security to Lalu Prasad Yadav during the visit. The Manmohan Singh Government made the point that under the constitutional scheme of things in India, it is the responsibility of the State Governments to maintain law and order and to provide security to visiting central Ministers.
The Railway Minister went so far as to demand the dismissal of the Narendra Modi Government, alleging that the Bajrang Dal and the RSS were responsible for the incident of stone-pelting at his car in Vadodara. Later the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, also held a meeting to discuss the attack on the Railway Minister and decided to call for a report from the State Government on the incident. The State Government in its report has said that it did not get adequate notice of the Railway Minister’s visit, but had sent securitymen to the site as soon as it got the information. The state Governor is also said to have sent his views on the incident to the Central Government.
The incident is fast taking political colours. The Left parties have expressed their solidarity with the Railway Minister while the NDA has drawn unexpected support from the Samajwadi Party. Senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D. Raja went to Rail Bhavan to express their solidarity with Lalu Prasad Yadav.
The BJP on its part, has said that the Government is using the stone-pelting incident to draw attention away from the lack of safety on the Indian Railways. It has demanded the resignation of the Railway Minister, asking him to take responsibility for the train accident. The Samajwadi Party, which is supporting the UPA Government from outside, has opposed any harsh action against the Gujarat Government. Party President and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav said, “The country’s federal structure will be endangered if a Government is sacked on such petty issues.”
Reports say that the Centre may not take any action against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the Left parties supporting the Manmohan Singh Government from outside are against the use of Art. 356. Article 356 provides for dismissal of a State Government and its replacement by direct central rule. But observers say that the Centre may consider clipping Narendra Modi’s wings by using Art. 355. This Article states : “It shall be the duty of the Union Government to protect every state against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the Government of every state is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.”
It is the latter part of the provision that some in the Government feel could be applied in Modi’s case and he made directly accountable to the Centre.
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