LUCKNOW: Union Minister of State for Steel Akhilesh Das on Saturday condemned the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government's decision to deny Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal entry into Gorakhpur on Thursday last. He said the Centre had taken the matter seriously.

Dr. Das told journalists that the Centre could not have remained a silent spectator with the situation deteriorating in Gorakhpur, which is why the Minister was sent to make an assessment of the law and order situation.

"Situation worsening"

The law and order situation in the State had deteriorated. Even the common man felt that impartial Assembly elections were impossible under the present regime. This perception was built around the manner in which last year's civic elections and the zilla panchayat polls earlier were rigged by the ruling party, he alleged. The Congress party's mayoral candidate in Lucknow, Manzoor Ahmed, was defeated though he was in a winning position.

However, Dr. Das ruled out the possibility of the dismissal of a duly elected Government and the imposition of President's rule in the State. He said the Centre was bound by the Constitution.

SAIL's plan

The Minister said the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) had prepared an action plan for the revival of sick units in Ghaziabad and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

It was in touch with Industrial Financial Corporation of India (IFCI) in the case of Malavika Steels in Jagdishpur (in the Amethi parliamentary constituency of Rahul Gandhi). He was hopeful of better results.

Dr. Das denied that SAIL was selling its property in Bokaro and Bhilai steel plants. The employees of the steel plant in Jharkhand were facing housing problem. Hence, SAIL was looking into the proposal of increasing the accommodation. Dealers have been appointed for the availability of steel to the common man.

Lauding the Corus acquisition by Tata Steel, he said it made all Indians proud.

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