Mumbai Events Top Uf Agenda, Says Gujral

Spurred on by the Congress demand to impose Presidents rule in Maharashtra, Prime Minister I K Gujral yesterday sent Union home minister on a two-day visit to trouble-torn Mumbai, and said the responsibility of the Shiv Sena-BJP government was very heavy in ensuring that the violence did not spread to other areas of the state.

It is extremely important for the government of Maharashtra to understand that the Central government is concerned, and is keen that any apread of violence must be stopped, Gujral said.

He said he told the Congress delegation on Monday that the Mumbai developments were top-most on the governments agenda. Ever since I have been moving in this matter, he said.

Union home minister Indrajit Gupta left for Mumbai yesterday evening alongwith secretary K Padmanabhaiah. Earlier in the day, Gupta chaired a meeting of the ministrys consultative committee, and said he agreed with the perception of the members that intelligence failure and non-accountability of the police were responsible for the casualties in Mumbai.

Gupta, however, said it would not be advisable at this stage to express opinion on the issue as the Maharashtra government had already ordered a judicial inquiry into the violence and the police firing.

Meanwhile, Congress president Sitaram Kesri sent another team to Mumbai to study the situation. On Monday, senior leader Meira Kumar reported to Kesri after making initial inquiries. The second delegation includes G Venkatsamy, Syed Sibtey Razi, Priranjan Dasmunshi, Mohsona Kidwai and Margaret Alva.