NEW DELHE: The Prime Minister P.V Narasimha Rao has said that there was no question of the resigning over the Ayodhya issue.
In an interview with the Eyewitness a video news magazine on Dec.10 the Prime Minister asked: “Why should I? I will finish my full five-year term (as PM).”
“I’m quite sure it was preplanned” said Rao of the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya on Sunday “The state government didn’t want to control the situation. There were strict orders from the chief minister that no force (by the central forces) should be used” he said.
“It (the demolition) could not be spontaneous It could not be just on the spur of a moment. I have tried to take a comprehensive look at everything. Putting many things together-each small event reaction and reflex of the state government and the leaders every utterance of the leaders the advantage of speaking in so many voices and gelling away with everything it was the result of pre-planning he asserted.
Asked if his governments “accommodating attitude” towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Was wrong Rao said “I don’t think it was a mistake You have to trust them. You do get into difficulties. But the Constitution has to be followed.”
“I’m not pleading helplessness” he said adding that he was bound by the Constitution “The moment Tcould act (under the Constitution ~ by dismissing the Uttar Pradesh government after the demolition) T did.” It was not possible to dismiss the state government earlier because the latter was continuously assuring the Supreme Court “and the world” that it would honor its commitment to the Court. “A Central government has to trust a State government under a federal constitution” the Prime Minister said.
On using Article 356 earlier Rao said it could not be done. “I’m quite sure of that Using Article 356is not easy or a straight matter. It should be used only sparingly it circumstances justified under the Constitution. There was a lot of opinion on the use of Article 35¢ judicial official and political. Some political parties did not want (us) to use this Article.”
On being asked if Article 355 under which the Central government could acquire certain areas in a state if those areas are under external/internal threat could have been used Rao said it could not be used because “Article 355 has never been used in the Indian history. There is no need to use it. We went straight to Article 356″
“I have done the utmost that I can do by making available a very large force which could have been used. What more can you do than giving the state government 192 companies of central forces which amounts to about 11 to 12000 people and asking it to make use of them? If there was any will on the part of the state government it could have controlled them (the kar sevaks very easily and everything would have been under control.”
Rao said the state government and Bharatiya Janata Party had protested against bringing in the forces and asked him to withdraw them. Sending of the forces was the Centers contingency plan Rao said. “We were asking them (the State govt.) to use it (the force). We were telling them time and again every hour to use it. I cannot have a counter step for every step they take.”
Asked why the Center was silent for five hours while the demolition was taking place Rao said “It was known to us only after 1pm. The hours have been noted. What happened when has also been noted We are coming out with a white paper on it. During the five hours Rao said the state government asked the Center first for 25 companies and then for 50 more both of which were sent from Faizabad En route to Ayodhya the magistrate accompanying the companies said; “Lam under strict orders from the Chief Minister that force should not be used so go back to the barracks.” “The Chief Minister was saying different things to me and his officials different” Rao pointed out.
As to why the forces cleared the kar sevaks 16 hours after the demolition was complete Rao said it was not a political but a strategic decision because “the man in charge on the spot said they could do it at night and not during the day. There were about 150000 kar sevaks (still present)”
On the arrests of L.K. Advani and Dr.Murli Manohar Joshi Rao said: “They have to bear the responsibility (for the pre-planned demolition) which all leaders have to bear. They have been arrested because they were responsible for certain acts.”
Rao agreed Advanis yatras had instigated people and whipped up emotions. “Of course there is no doubt about that” he said “But we didn’t stop the yatras because in this country you cannot do so just for the sake of stopping yatras. He is a leader of stature Things could have been worse (had we stopped him). Further the yatras were in UP. How do we enter Ur? Who is in charge of UP? Rao is in charge of law and order there? The home minister? he said.
On trying to limit the number of kar sevaks who congregated at Ayodhya Rao said “it does not work in 1990 It could not have been tied now. You can’t stop people (from going anywhere in the country) The Supreme Court gave the parameters for kar seva and everyone was going to do just that. In hindsight I could have done it.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 30, 1992
