If there's violence, we can help -- Govt to Sena

If there's violence, we can help -- Govt to Sena
DEVESH KUMAR

NEW DELHI, JULY 21: The Vajpayee Government today reserved the right to intervene if the current face-off between the Maharashtra Government and the Shiv Sena spirals out of control.

In a clear bid to mollify ally Shiv Sena, a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister's residence this evening took the view that the Centre could not remain a mute spectator if a serious law and order problem developed either in Maharashtra or in any other part of the country as a result of the State Government's decision to prosecute Bal Thackeray. Ironically, it's the Sena which has threatened violence if its chief is arrested.

But armed with this sop, the two Sena union ministers, Suresh Prabhu and Manohar Joshi, softened on their resignation and said it was up to the Prime Minister to decide what to do with their letters. The PM has already rejected their resignations and the Government seemed optimistic that by the time Parliament reopens next week, the Sena ministers will be back in the saddle.

Attorney General Soli Sorabjee clarified to correspondents after the meeting that the new affidavit to be filed by the Government in the Supreme Court in six weeks would be the same as the old one which states that the Centre had no locus standi in the decisions taken by the Maharashtra Government regarding the implementation of the Srikrishna Commission Report.

The Government seems to be attempting to draw a distinction between the ongoing hearings on the Srikrishna Commission Report and the fallout of Thackeray's possible prosecution.

The distinction was reiterated by Law Minister Ram Jethmalani today in a sharp reaction to the Court's criticism of his statements. In Mumbai, he said his comments related specifically to the move of the Maharashtra Government to arrest Bal Thackeray. He said that this does not form part of the Court proceedings.

``The learned Chief Justice should at least have realised that he was making comments about a minister who knows his law as well as anyone else,'' Jethmalani declared.

Incidentally, the case against Thackeray which the state government has decided to re-open deals with charges covered by the Srikrishna Commission as well.

By indicating it had a right to intervene, the Centre seems to be sending a warning to the Maharashtra Government to ensure that there is no trouble in the State because it has threatened to prosecute Thackeray. At the same time, official sources maintained that a similar admonishment has been given to the Sena as well.

This evening's meeting also took the view that all matters relating to the move to prosecute Thackeray should be referred to the courts which would rule on their legal status.

Sorabjee and Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley were called to the meeting, also attended by Prabhu and Joshi, to ascertain the legal position of the demand from the Sena for central intervention, particularly after the Supreme Court's interim ruling.

The two Sena ministers made out a strong legal and political case against the Congress-NCP combine's action. ``They gave to the Prime Minister the details of why they felt that the sanction given by the Maharashtra government for Thackeray's prosecution is not in conformity with the law,'' Jaitley told reporters after the meeting.

``The Prime Minister heard their arguements at length. He would be consulting his colleagues on the matter. He has not accepted their resignations,'' he added.

The two Sena minsters disclosed that they would not be attending tonight's Cabinet meeting as they had fly back to Mumbai. Asked whether they would press for the acceptance of their resignations, Joshi responded by saying that a final decision after consulting `Balasaheb' and other senior leaders.

But the tone and tenor of their voice indicated a considerable softening in their stance ``The Centre should do whatever it feels is right. We have said anything from our side. I is for the Prime Minister to decide. After all, he is the leader of the entire coalition,'' Joshi said.