Cabinet To Discuss Up Situation Today

The Union cabinet is slated to discuss the UP situation and all related issues today, according to a Janata Dal minister. The minister was not sure whether home minister Indrajit Guptas statement in the Rajya Sabha had resolved the crisis in the United Front government.

Though the home minister yesterday clarified in the House that his famous statement of UP heading towards chaos, anarchy and destruction did not even contain a mention of Governor Romesh Bhandari, he virtually admitted that the Union cabinet was not unanimous in its assessment of the UP situation - something that Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee also pointed out in his speech.

Even Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangmas ruling is based on the premise that the government had failed to abide by the constitutional obligation of collective responsibility to Parliament.

It is this part of the home minsiters speech that has caused concern in the government. Gupta has gone further to say that this difference of perception was a mistake and that it was for the cabinet to correct it. With the cabinet discussing the UP situation today, it is to be seen whether it agrees with Guptas perception of the UP situation.

Any change in the government view on any aspect of the UP situation whether political, social and relating to law and order, is sure to be picked up by the Opposition and made a major issue.

Keeping this aspect of the issue in mind the meeting of the United Front steering committee also assumes significance. The CPI(M), which is not part of the government but have a strong influence over the steering committee, is known to be backing Gupta on the issue.

However, the party is also very close to Samajwadi Party leader and defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is totally backing Bhandari in painting a rosy picture of the UP situation.

The BJP-sponsored motion demanding the removal of Uttar Pradesh Governor Romesh Bhandari will, by all indications, be taken up for debate on Thursday.

A final decision is likely to be taken in the Business Advisory committee of the Lok Sabha today.