Gupta And Gowda Will Reply To Motion On Up

Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and home minister Indrajit Gupta yesterday decided that both of them would reply on behalf of the government to the debate on the UP law and order situation, thereby defusing the crisis over the differing perceptions within the government on the issue.

Gowda and Gupta met over breakfast yesterday at the Prime Ministers residence. This was the first time the two leaders had a one-to-one meeting after the crisis over the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh erupted about a fortnight ago.

Given the general mood in Parliament against him and Guptas record of frankness, Romesh Bhandari met the home minister for about thirty minutes yesterday and tried to impress upon him the performance of the administration under his command.

Gupta is slated to reply to the debate in Rajya Sabha today. The Business Advisory Committee of Lok Sabha would decide on the date of debate and voting on the BJPs motion on UP.

Bhandari had created an uproar about a fortnight ago when he openly challenged the statement of Gupta in Parliament that the law and order situation in UP was bordering anarchy, chaos and destruction. Bhandari had told journalists that he had reported to the Prime Minister on the law and order situation and that the PM was satisfied with it.

Later in the evening yesterday, Gowda met defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, the staunchest supporter of Bhandari in the United Front government. Yadav has continued to defended Governor Romesh Bhandari and praised his performance in Lucknow on Saturday.

A large section of the Congress, a section of the CPI-M and the CPI, the home ministers party, have been asking for removal of Bhandari.

Despite initial indications that Bhandari might be asked to resign before the BJP motion is taken up for debate in Lok Sabha later this week, yesterday it was apparent that Bhandari would stay, at least for the time being. Though the BJP motion for Bhandaris recall is bound to fail, the high profile Governor is likely to draw flak from many sections of the Front and also from the Congress.

The UP unit of the Congress has demanded immediate removal of Bhandari even at the risk of being clubbed with the opposition BJP.