The Hindu : Front Page : Sarkaria recommendations not binding: Patil

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Sunday, Oct 31, 2004

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Sarkaria recommendations not binding: Patil

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, OCT. 30. The Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, said here today that the Sarkaria Commission recommendations were not dishonoured in the case of the replacement of the Tamil Nadu Governor as these had not been incorporated into law.

"Many Commissions have been appointed by Governments and they made recommendations. They do not become binding on us when they are not incorporated into law," Mr. Patil told reporters after the passing-out parade of IPS probationers at the S.V.P. National Police Academy here.

He was answering a question if the Sarkaria Commission recommendations on Centre-State relations had been "buried" by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government in the wake of the controversy over the Tamil Nadu Governor's resignation.

`Privileged talk'

Mr. Patil was unhappy over the manner in which the transcript of his conversation with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, was made public. He termed the conversation a "privileged talk" and said he had left the issue to the good sense of the Tamil Nadu Government. Mr. Patil said the Congress policy on the appointment of Governors was discussed for three hours in Parliament. "You will not entertain such doubts if you had followed the debate," he said in response to a question whether the Government was not following the procedures.

The Minister said the Centre had no intention to stall the talks initiated by the Andhra Pradesh Government with naxalites. He called reports in this regard "wrong" and said Orissa had evinced interest in starting a dialogue with the Maoists.

To a question on Statehood for Telangana, he said: "We will make a policy to the satisfaction of all."

There was no surprise in the selection of Vilasrao Deshmukh as Maharashtra Chief Minister. He is "not a surprise choice nor a dark horse," he said.

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