Cong May Close Ranks To Take On Sena
The Congress is likely to close its ranks and take on the BJP-Sena government in Maharashtra over the indictment of Sena supremo Balasaheb Thakre by the Shrikrishna Commission.
Minutes before the party's highest decision making body, Congress Working Committee, began its sitting to discuss the report, there were indications that Sonia Gandhi may not take on Sharad Pawar on this particular issue and would rather utilise the opportunity to expose the BJP-Sena combine.
This means, concentrating on Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra and also the BJP and allies governmetn at the Centre while ignoring the reference to Congress-led administration's `confusion' leading to police inaction in preventing the riots. The Shrikrishna Commission report which was presented in Maharashtra Assembly yesterday, gives details of the reason that led to riots in Bombay following the demolition of the Babari mosque in Ayodhya by Hindu fundamentalists in January 1993.
Senior leaders of the party were tight lipped over the report and excused themselves by saying that they would talk only after the CWC meeting. Sharad Pawar, when contacted by a journalist early yesterday agreed for an interview but refused to talk when the journalist arrived at his residence at the appointed time.
The CWC view on the commission report would decide as to whether the party would turn the opportunity to its advantage by taking to the streets demanding action against the BJP-Sena leaders, or blunt the attack by indulging in Pawar bashing. A strident posture and a mass movement over the issue could give the Congress an opportunity to earn the faith of the minorities it had lost following the demolition of the Babari mosque.
Pawar's supporters yesterday claimed that his name does not figure in the report and yet the BJP-Sena government has included his name in the Action Taken Report prepared by them. According to them, the report only mentions the name of the then Congress chief minister Sudhakerrao Naik and refers to coflicting views within the party leading to confusing signals to the state administration and the police. Sena supremo Balasaheb Thakre has used this small reference to Congress to attack the party, a Pawar supporter said. He was referring to Thakre's statement yesterday in which he said that Naik and Pawar_both summoned by the commission_had been let off lightly "with just a pinch". Thakre had also tried to shift the blame on Pawar and Naik by saying "ask Naik and Pawar" when asked by journalists as to who were responsible for the riots. The Congress has so far not given its official reaction on the report. The Left parties have already demanded dismissal of the Sena-BJP government and even arrest of Thakre for
his involvement in Bombay riots.