Indira Arts Centre's bid for patch-up with Govt

Indira Arts Centre's bid for patch-up with Govt
NEERJA CHOWDHURY

NEW DELHI, JAN 6: In a surprise move, the trustees of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts have indicated to the Government their willingness to rescind the controversial amendment which made Sonia Gandhi the life President of the Centre.

The executive committee of the IGNCA which met at the residence of former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao today authorised Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherji to negotiate with the Government on how the controversy could be defused as the matter is before the High Court. The court gave the Government carte blanche to go ahead and take appropriate action.

With D-day on January 10 when the matter comes up before the Delhi High Court again, efforts have been stepped up to find a way out which could save the institution from being taken over.

Though the IGNCA has done valuable work in the field of arts, it has become a political football ever since its constitution was changed to confer life membership to founder members including Sonia Gandhi. This happened when Raowas the PM.

It's Rao who is learnt to have taken the initiative to break the deadlock with the Government. During the last meeting, Sonia had urged him to assess what the Government had in mind and to open negotiations.

The thaw set in at the recent meeting of Rao with Prime Minister Vajpayee which was billed as a ``courtesy call.'' Vajpayee reportedly showed an open mind about resolving the issue amicably. He asked the IGNCA to depute a team of people who would meet with emisaries of the Government.

Sonia deputed a team to talk to the Government on behalf of the IGNCA and it comprised Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherji and Ram Nivas Mirdha. They met Culture Minister Ananth Kumar and Attorney General Soli Sorbajee a few days ago. Sorabjee impressed upon the IGNCA team the legal unviability of the amendment which had made Sonia and others life members.

The Government representatives are believed to have mooted a ``formula'' for ending the impasse which would include the restoration of the status quoante.