Bommai Winks At Lapses In Official Events

The United Front government yesterday appeared half-hearted in its efforts to celebrate 50 years of the countrys independence. S R Bommai, Union minister responsible for organising the celebrations, gave the impression at a press briefing that he was merely going through the motions of announcing the details of the celebrations.

Officials involved in organising the celebrations admit that the I K Gujral government appeared to be less than eager on the events planned. The fact that the government had not chosen the best man for the job was evident when Bommai could not answer several questions from newsmen even while he was repeatedly urged to be clear in his briefing.

We cannot understand you, could you be clear in what you are saying, he was told.

When it was put to him that nobody knew of the official events that had been planned, he dismissed it by saying that everybody was aware of them. He announced that all restrictions had been removed on the use of the Tricolour on August 14 and 15, but was not clear how the general public could procure the flags.

He claimed that the flags would be available at Khadi Bhandars, and said he would look into the suggestion to set up special counters for the purpose. He would not agree with suggestions that the government had not thought of such things in advance. He issued a two-page appeal to celebrate 50 years of independence in a grand manner.

The government has organised a `March of the Nation tonight at the Rajpath in the Capital. Bommai declared that everybody was free to attend the event as well as the laser display, but inquiries with the Delhi administration revealed that entry would be restricted. Officials accompanying Bommai admitted that there was a large communication gap between government agencies involved, and that the minister had little knowledge of them.

My family wanted to participate in the function, but we had to approach the Delhi administration for the passes. And for getting them, one has to furnish the family history. They have made it very difficult for the common man to participate in the official functions, a senior official in the Union ministry of human resources development remarked.

Bommai repeated an earlier announcement that a freedom memorial would be constructed in the Capital, but could not give any details of the location or the costs involved. Constructing the memorial could take 10 years, he said and remarked that the laying of a foundation stone itself would be a good start. But officials disclosed that no site had been decided as yet.

At the press meet, Bommai announced details of the programmes to be organised by various official cultural agencies for the year.

An amount of Rs 51 crore had been earmarked for the celebrations.