Search the Internet          Tips

BJP asks Narendra Modi to dissolve Gujarat assembly

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday night at its executive meeting in Goa asked Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to dissolve the state assembly and seek verdict of the people.

While rejecting Modi's offer to resign, a resolution adopted at the national executive said, "Instead of accepting his resignation, the national executive advises him to seek dissolution of the assembly, go to the people and seek their verdict."

The resolution dealt with the Godhra train carnage and the subsequent communal violence in Gujarat, which killed over 850 people.

The resolution said, "In a democracy there is only one way to put the issue and the calumny to rest. The people are the one who can and must decide."

It said Modi offered to step down as chief minister in the best tradition of the party so as to assist it in discussing the happenings in Gujarat threadbare so that BJP may take a decision without any inhibition.

The resolution titled Godhra and its aftermath said the need of the hour was a national consensus towards calming and cooling down the anger of different sections of people in the state.

Describing the Godhra train carnage as a pre-meditated attack intended to disrupt the peace and harmony in Gujarat, the resolution said it was to the credit of the state administration and police that the incidents of massive rioting were brought under control in the initial few days.

"The police action has been aimed at rioters irrespective of the religious community to which they belonged," it said.

"The state today needs a healing touch," it added.

The resolution expressed confidence that Modi can meet every challenge and that by effective action he can counter every canard.

"Violence has been brought under control," the resolution said.

It said the 'firmness' contrasts sharply with the way earlier governments such as of the Congress responded.

Modi called the army to assist the civil administration within 16 hours and by contrast the earlier Congress government faced with the similar situation took five days to call up the army, it said.

Giving evidence to suggest police action in dealing with the riots, the resolution said 27,000 people were arrested -- 11,000 for criminal charges and 16,000 as a preventive measure.

As many as 3,400 FIRs recording the involvement of persons in rioting, looting, arson and killing have been lodged, the resolution said.

It said that the police fired 7,233 rounds across the state to prevent mobs from wreaking violence and 139 people got killed in police firing alone.

"In which communal riot in the history of India have so many arrests been made and such firm action taken by the police that 139 persons got killed in police firing alone," the resolution said.

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report