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Let Rabri rule, says Congress

The Congress opposes the idea of dismissing the Rabri Devi government in Bihar, party spokesman Ajit Jogi said on Thursday.

Talking to the media in Delhi, Jogi said his party would not demand the ouster of the Rashtriya Janata Dal government now. He said there was no reason to be concerned about the alleged constitutional breakdown in the state.

He, however, admitted that things were not going smoothly in Bihar and that there had been a marked deterioration in the law and order situation there that paralysed developmental works.

His party was aware of the situation and would take a decision at the right moment, Jogi added.

He assured that his party was committed to the creation of Jharkhand and would ensure that the bill is passed in Parliament.

To a query he said it was the Centre's prerogative to divide any state under Article 3 of the Constitution. The state's decision was not binding on the Centre.

He said the Congress was opposed to the Gujarat government's dismissal, but added that the Centre should immediately issue directives to that government to check atrocities on minorities. The BJP was instigating communal passion and practising negative politics after its defeat in the recent election, Jogi alleged.

He said the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government may fall 'any time' as it stood on an "unstable arrangement". He said his party would not take the initiative to topple it -- it would fall on its own.

When the situation demands, the Congress would not back out from forming a government, he added.

To a question, he said the Congress had the active support of the minorities everywhere except in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Even in those states, the situation was fast changing in favour of the party, he claimed.

UNI

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