Author:
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: February 28, 2001
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee,
who was in a combat mode today, demolished the Opposition's charge of discrimination
during relief operation in earthquake devastated Gujarat and accused his
party's rivals with politicising every activity of governance.
"Attempts are being made to put
us in the dock. This is not proper and it has pained us. MPs should not
indulge in such politics," he said intervening in a debate on the relief
operations in earthquake devastated Gujarat. "We will bring out the truth
and will not allow you to drive political advantage out of this natural
calamity," a visibly angry Vajpayee said.
Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi
and her party leaders have been accusing of discrimination against Muslim
and Harijans. The prime minister challenged the Opposition to provide proof
to substantiate their allegations. Somnath Chatterjee, who heavily rely
on newspaper reports for building up arguments against the treasury, said
that the prime minister was politicising the issue.
Mr Vajpayee said these cheap tricks
often employed by the Opposition was not enough to pull votes. "The results
of recent by-polls have shown that their allegations against my government
are untrue. The planned propaganda that Muslims and Harijans were discriminated
against has resulted in the country's image being tarnished abroad." Curiously,
all through the prime minister's speech, Ms Gandhi, who had promised to
anchor the Opposition's onslaught against the government at a rally here
on Sunday, chose to remain silent.
In his intervention the prime minister
said his government has derided to set up a national disaster management
authority to tackle expeditiously natural calamities. He said a suggestion
to his effect was made by leader of Opposition at the all party meeting
convened following the quake.
It became untenable for the Congress
to peg its campaign against the BJP on discrimination when Congress leader
Shivraj Patil clarified that no one had blamed the Gujarat government in
providing relief. Seizing upon the statement of Mr Patil, Union home minister
L K Advani said from the way in which Opposition leaders raised the issue,
an impression has gained ground that the state government was the culprit.
