Govt Stands By Gupta In Row Over Up Statement

The government gave clear signals yesterday that it was standing by home minister Indrajit Gupta, despite being embarassed by his statement on the floor of the Lok Sabha last week that the situation in Centre-ruled Uttar Pradesh was heading towards anarchy, chaos and destruction.

A senior government official said the government might even decide to recall Uttar Pradesh Governor Romesh Bhandari, but only after about three months.

Bhandari had contradicted the home minister, saying that he had sent his report to Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and that the PM was satisfied with the law and order situation in the state.

Sensing the mood in the government, Bhandari, for the first time after the home ministers statement, yesterday softened his stand and claimed that all the misunderstanding between him and the home minister was a creation of the media.

The decision of political parties to set up an advisory committee of MPs on UP is also sure to soften the belligerent attitude of the Governor a bit.

Meanwhile, more sections in the 14-party ruling United Front, including the Prime Ministers own party Janata Dal, has started speaking against the misrule of the Governor.

Sources in the Front said it was increasingly becoming clear that the only major power supporting Bhandari was Union defence minister Mulayam Singh and his party (Samajwadi Party) general secretary Amar Singh.

At the United Front parliamentary party meeting yesterday, MPs asked the Prime Minister to clarify the governments position and clear the confusion arising out of the contradictory statements made by Gupta and Bhandari.

Members expressed concern over press reports on UP and said such a development did not augur well for the cohesiveness of the ruling coalition.

Members stressed the need for greater floor coordination and cohesiveness in the House.

Front leaders said the meeting witnessed a wordy duel between Samajwadi Party members and the CPI over the issue of recalling the UP Governor.

Samajwadi MP Amar Singh and defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav were supported by Pappu Yadav of Janata Dal, who shouted at Jalaluddin Ansari of CPI for seeking the recall of the Governor.

A verbal dual ensued as Yadav and Singh shouted that the recall of Bhandari would mean installing a BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.