NEW DELHI: Central intervention in Ayodhya was ruled out by Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao due to apprehensions over the reaction of President R. Venkataraman indicating mistrust between the two in the last days of the latter’s tenure.
Rao hinted about his apprehensions over Venkataramans stand in a meeting with West Bengal chief minister, Jyoti Basu. Basu, in turn, communicated the PMs fears to senior members of the central committee after CPI-M, which met in New Delhi for four days recently to thrash out his issue.
Basu explained that Rao was in a helpless position as he felt Ventakara man may not like to sign any ordinance concerning Ayodhya at the end of his tenure. Basus refrain was that CPI-M leaders should appreciate Raos plight.
One is not sure whether Venkataraman had reservations about signing any such ordinance before laying down office, preferring to leave the decision to his successor or the reservations related to his unwillingness to alienate the Bharatiya Janata Party, whose leaders had actively canvassed for another term for him.
In any case the Union government leaks from Rashrao at Bhavan, as the Giant says, in the past few weeks especially information relating to the Ram Janambhoomi issue. So much so that during the last few weeks the Union government did not send any papers relating to the meetings of the Cabinet committee on political affairs (CCPA) to the President.
Even at the height of the running battle between Giani Zail Singh and late Rajiv Gandhi the latter had not denied the President CCPA papers.
It is Iearnt that toppers in the Central government felt that if Venkataraman refused to sign an ordinance for whatever reason, it would send wrong signals. The Presidents refusal to sign an ordinance could be a shot in the arm for the BJP, which would undoubtedly be a major embarrassment for the Congress. The general consensus is that it would be better to hold on for some time, which would provide an opportunity give the courts a chance for another round of talks with the sanyas is as well as the BJP leaders.
In the last few months relations between the prime minister and the president had been detenorating. The reported refusal of the president to cancel his Madras rip for swearing-in, repeating’s in the Presidential plan disturbing his tour programs and Narasimha Raos decision not to give Venkataraman another term in spite of clear indications from Venkataraman that he was interested in a second term, has all created bad blood.
Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 7, 1992
