Saturday, March 19 2005 13:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Launching a scathing attack on the imposition of President's rule in Bihar, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Nitish Kumar today (Mar 19, 2005) said in the Lok Sabha that Central rule should not continue beyond six months as there would be a "serious reaction" and warned Congress not to "indirectly rule" the State.

If President's rule goes for more than six months "there would be serious reaction in the State. It is almost two weeks since President's rule has been imposed but no advisors have been appointed so far," Kumar said while initiating a debate on the issue after Home Minister Shivraj Patil moved a resolution seeking approval of the Presidential Proclamation in the State.

Stressing that "something needs to be done" to end the impasse, he said, "You cannot have President's rule and we don't want it to continue as there is no alternative to an elected Government."

Stating that there had been no constitutional breakdown in the State, he blamed the Congress for the present situation saying, "Congress party in Bihar has been reduced to 10 seats and who is responsible. You are. You want to indirectly rule in Bihar."

Earlier moving the resolution for approval of the Presidential proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said it was issued keeping in view the Governor's report that "no political party or group could establish a majority."

He said that both the coalitions led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and JD-U had 92 legislators each and the Governor was "fully satisfied" that there was "complete inability" of any party or coalition to command a majority in the Assembly.

Keeping this in mind, Patil said the Governor recommended to the Centre that the newly constituted Assembly be kept under suspended animation.

As the State Budget and vote-on-account were yet to be passed and it was "not appropriate" for the caretaker Government headed by Rabri Devi to do so, the Union Cabinet on March 7 recommended imposition of President's Rule and keeping the Assembly under suspended animation to avoid a financial and constitutional crisis in Bihar.

Consequently, the Presidential Proclamation under Article 356 was issued on the same day, Patil said and urged the House to approve it.

As soon as Speaker Somnath Chatterjee asked Nitish Kumar to initiate a debate on the matter, JD-U member Prabhunath Singh sought the presence of Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan in the House saying he held the key to Bihar and should make a statement.

Kumar took strong exception to the reported remarks by LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan claiming that the JD-U leader wanted the Governor Buta Singh to be removed because he was a Dalit.

He alleged it was Paswan who was "dragging him into a controversy over the Governor belonging to the Dalit community and it is him (Paswan) who has been saying it and not me".

"I do not want to drag the gubernatorial post into a controversy but he is doing it and he is a Cabinet Minister. It is wrong to say that someone is opposing the Governor because he is a Dalit," Kumar said.

Kumar said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had sent a caveat to the Governor that it being the biggest coalition should have been called and given time to prove its majority. But, this has not been mentioned in the statement by Home Minister.

"We staked our counter-claim and told the Governor that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- JD-U is the biggest alliance and if Governor is inviting someone, the BJP-JD-U should have been called," he said.

Kumar said that the newly elected MLAs in Bihar should be given their salaries and allowances as per Section 195 and also other facilities due to them as elected representatives.