NEW DELHI: The home minister, S.B.Chavan, on March 15 told Parliament that an “important clue” found from the bomb laden scooter in Bombay might give a lead for full investigations in to the explosions in that city. He, however, did not disclose the details.
Replying to sharp criticism, mainly by Opposition members, during a calling attention motion in the Rajya Sabha on the bomb explosions, Chavan conceded that the unprecedented assault had clearly shown that both the intelligence and police forces needed to be reoriented.
The issue figured also in the Lok Sabha when an adjournment motion, moved by CPI (1) member, Somnath Chatterji, was admitted for discussion, The motion was later defeated by a voice vote.
Chavan assured the Lok Sabha that all steps would be taken to bring the culprits to book, while in the Rajya Sabha he said that “we are still considering what is to be done” to deal with the situation. At present, the police and other investigating agencies in Maharashura were handling the case, Chavan added.
Earlier, in the upper House, Yashwant Sinha (SJP), Pramod Mahajan (BJP), Gurudas Das Gupta (CPI) and other Opposition members blasted the government for is indifferent attitude, with Mahajan demanding the resignation of the Narasimha Rao government
Sinha urged the government to bring the culprits to book immediately and ensure that this type of ghastly act was not repeated in any other part of the country. Moving the motion, Mahajan said that it was unfortunate that the government did not take any immediate follow up action, For instance, the international airport continued to function and might have given a chance to the culprits to escape. He also questioned the competence of the intelligence agencies which failed to forewarn the government.
The statement made by the minister of state for home, P.M Sayeed, was described even by the ruling party members as vague and not containing the latest information.
M.C.Bhandare (Cong I) said that the country’s intelligence agencies should be geared to meet the challenge posed by international terrorism.
Jagmohan (Nom) asserted that the government’s soft attitude towards terrorists had led to the explosion.
LK.Gujral (JD) underlined the need for making the country’s intelligence system hi-tech.
On a suggestion by the deputy chairperson, Najma Heptulla, the members agreed to donate one day’s salary for relief in Bombay.
Replying to the adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, the home minister reiterated the prime minister’s stand that “these ghastly acts have been designed to hurt our country’s economic progress and to create disturbances to thwart our economic growth.”
Initiating the debate, Chatterji said that the government in the recent past merely reacted, but not acted on some grave issues. Referring to newspaper accounts, he said some suspects had been named, but they had been allowed to flee, He said the government had spoken of designs to hurt the economic progress of the country and wanted to know on what basis was this statement made.
He said there had been a similar failure of the intelligence when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated, In the present case, the activity had been directed against the whole country. He said the government made clearly whether it was an attack on the economy or an act to destabilize the country as a whole.
Sunil Dutt (Cong-1) said the whole trouble in Bombay had Started after the demolition of Babni Masjid. “We would not have seen such ghastly incidents had the Babri Masjid not been demolished.”
He said Bombay used to be a very peaceful city and during the last 40 years such violence as witnessed in the last two months had never happened.
He said no one could blame the government. The need of the hour was to sink all differences and work unitedly for the future, Chavan said that the government was closely working with international agencies such a3 Interpol to determine external linkages. He said seven AK S6nifles, 14 empty magazines of AK 56, and four hand grenades were recovered from a car at Worli.
The home minister said that the securely in Bombay was beefed up with the induction of three CRPF: companies, four BSF companies and eight RAF companies. Hesaid “as a precautionary measure, 19) columns of army have been deployed by the state government in selected locations.”
It was too premature to come to a defense conclusion that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) or any other outfits were behind the bomb blasts.
He, however, made it clear that he holds no brief for ISL. The government stood by the statement on the involvement of a foreign country bent on destabilizing the nation.
The attempts to undermine the unity and integrity of the country were far more serious than the efforts to sabotage the economy of the nation by these forces, he said,
Commenting on the financial assistance and other relief measures, the home minister said the Slale government was doing ils best to bring the situation under control, i The adjournment motion, the first such onslaught against the Narasimha Rao government in the budget session, was defeated by 140 votes to 106 with three ab Stentions.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 19, 1993
