NEW DELHI; Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana last week alleged that Lt Governor P K Dave had buckled under pressure from the top (the Central Government) by asking Home Secretary Anil Bajal not to go ahead with the registration of antiSikh riot cases which implicate among others Congress MP Sajjan Kumar and Delhi Congress chief H.K.I.Bhagat for their alleged complicity in the riots.

Baijal is also Khurana Additional Private Secretary.

The cases numbering 21 have been pending for formal registration by the police only a few days ago Khurana had at a Press conference said; The Lt. Governor had agreed to forward these cases to the police.

Khurana while talking to reporters last week said it is matter of great concern for all of us that these cases are yet to be registered.

He said that during his meetings with the Lt. Governor twice earlier the latter had asked the Homo Secretary to proceed with the cases.

However it seemed that Daye had ordered the Home Secretary to stop the Implementation of the orders for the time being Khurana alleged.

It is a mystery the Chief Minister said adding apparently the Lt Governor had to act following pressure from the top Khurana said he should be meeting the Lt Governor in this connection. Even though the Lt Governor had in my presence asked + not once but twice the Home Secretary to get the cases lodged nothing was done Khurana said. During my second meeting the La Governor even asked Baijal to report to him in the evening On whether the cases have been lodged with the police.

This is the first time that the Chief Minister has taken on the Lt Governor and that too at a Press briefing. It may be recalled that on April 16 the Lt Governor had in the same manner called a news conference to criticize Khurana stance on the closure of the Idgah abattoir and for hastily announcing sales tax concessions before referring the matter to him.

The three issues the 1984 riot cases the closure of the abattoir following a High Court order and the sales tax concessions have become flashpoints of confrontation between Mr. Dave and Mr. Khurana.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 6, 1994