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Congress, Mulayam attack President's rule

The Congress and the Samajwadi Party today attacked President's rule in Bihar, saying the Centre has failed to maintain law-and-order and protect the lives of people.

"The seven killings that took place during the governor's rule clearly show it is not a substitute for good governance in Bihar," Congress spokesman Ajit Jogi said in New Delhi.

Asked whether judgement could be passed within two days on the efficacy of President's rule, Jogi said the time factor is insignificant if a government is effective. Moreover, thousands of paramilitary personnel have been deployed in Bihar, which was not the case earlier.

In Lucknow, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav demanded the resignation of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government on moral grounds after Sunday's killings.

If the government refuses to resign, President K R Narayanan should dismiss it, he added.

Yadav, president of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (National Democratic Front), an alliance of the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal of Laloo Prasad Yadav, said that since Bihar is under President's rule now, the Centre should accept moral responsibility for the massacres.

He blamed the Ranvir Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samata Party for terrorising the landless, who, he said, are being killed en masse.

The former Union defence minister said that when the Rabri Devi government had sought additional paramilitary forces to protect the poor, the Centre had refused, saying it was short of forces. But soon after the RJD government's dismissal, the forces were flown into Bihar.

Yet, the killings had taken place, proving the Centre's incompetence, he said.

Jogi said the Congress was deeply concerned and shocked by the brutal murders. "The Government of India is directly responsible for the administration and it has failed to ensure law-and-order, peace and tranquillity, and safety and security."

Asked whether the Congress would support the motion in Parliament to ratify President's rule, Jogi said the party would formulate its view only after the government brought forward all facts while seeking the approval of Parliament.

UNI

RELATED REPORT:
RJD accuses Centre of unleashing 'reign of terror'

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