The Hindu : National : `PM owes the nation an apology'

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Friday, Apr 16, 2004

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National

`PM owes the nation an apology'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 15. The president of the All-India Mahila Congress, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, today said that the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, owed the nation an "unqualified public apology" for the death of 22 women in a stampede and tampede in his constituency on Monday.

Referring to the stampede in Lucknow during the distribution of saris at a function to celebrate the birthday of Mr. Vajpayee's campaign manager, Lalji Tandon, she urged the Election Commission to take immediate action "against all those involved in the violation of the model code of conduct." Talking to mediapersons here, Ms. Joshi said it was shocking that the Prime Minister saw nothing wrong in the distribution of saris and instead said that "elections cannot wait."

She said: "Does the Prime Minister have so little respect for the dead women that not only does he make inhuman remarks but also goes ahead and gives the chief perpetrator of this ghastly tragedy a clean chit. The fact that Mr. Vajpayee has given Mr. Tandon a clean chit speaks volumes about the concern shown by him for poor people in his own constituency and women in general."

She alleged that "thugs and mobs" belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party were threatening and intimidating the families of the victims asking them not to give statements to the Press.

Instead of conducting an enquiry into the incident, Ms. Joshi said, the "entire district administration was busy preparing for the Prime Minister's visit for filing his nomination."

The Congress spokesman, Kapil Sibal, said that the handling of the case by the Samajwadi Party-led Government left much to be desired.

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