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Advani rules out imposition of President's rule

By K. Balchand

PATNA, APRIL 8. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, who was forced to cut short his speech by the District Magistrate here on Wednesday night, declined to comment on the issue today.

Running behind schedule, Mr. Advani was in the midst of his speech when the District Magistrate, Gautam Goswami, who is also the Returning Officer for the Patna Lok Sabha constituency, personally intervened and asked him to stop his speech at 10 p.m., the deadline set by the Election Commission on the use of audio system in urban areas.

Apparently, Mr. Advani was of the impression that the District Magistrate had given written permission for his election meeting to conclude by 11 p.m. He said he had made sure with the State BJP leaders on the issue and, hence, had spoken at length at Muzaffarpur.

"If I'd known that I had to complete my meeting at Patna before 10 p.m., I'd have kept my speech brief at Muzaffarpur."

Talking to newspersons, he ruled out the possibility of dismissal of the Rabri Devi Government and the imposition of President's rule in Bihar saying that Article 356 could not be invoked on grounds of bad governance.

Asked about the Defence Minister, George Fernandes' remarks that the State would be placed under Central rule if the NDA was returned to power, he said: "I'll talk to him on the matter."

Outlining the Centre's stress on strengthening the federal system and non-violation of constitutional norms, he said parliamentary approval for such action [imposition of President's rule] was mandatory which had been lacking on the two occasions when they had sought to dismiss the Bihar Government.

The Centre would consider the Election Commission's proposal for an ordinance to ban publication of exit polls till the completion of the five-phase elections.

On the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir-based Hurriyat Conference not to participate in the election process, Mr. Advani, who held talks with them in March, has called for a full report on why the Hurriyat had gone back on its assurance.

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