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Congress to oppose President's rule in Bihar

The Congress today decided to oppose the ratification of President's rule in Bihar in both the houses of Parliament and asserted that the survival of the coalition government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre was not its concern.

Briefing newspersons after a three-hour meeting of the Congress Working Committee, senior party leader Arjun Singh said the working committee has unanimously decided to oppose the resolution of the government for the ratification of President's rule in Bihar.

Arjun Singh said the party felt the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was putting pressure on the Union government and the Congress could not be seen supporting it. He said the working committee had considered all aspects of the issue before arriving at this decision.

Singh said the Congress would oppose the government resolution in this regard and vote against it in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

While the BJP-led coalition government has slender majority in the Lok Sabha, it is in a clear minority in the Rajya Sabha.

Asked if this decision meant that the Congress would support the RJD government in Bihar, Singh said the Congress does not have formal relations with the RJD in Bihar. The RJD has also not sought it support.

"They don't need our support," he said.

The decision to oppose the imposition of President's rule in Bihar was taken in the national interest. It did not mean the Congress was not concerned about the lot of the Dalits. "The Congress will do everything possible to save the life and property of dalits," he said, adding that the party would also ensure that atrocities against the Dalits did not recur.

Replying to another question, Singh said there was unanimity on this decision in the CWC, which considered all views including the state unit's reservation against the move.

Earlier in the day, the executive of the Congress party in Parliament had met and decided to leave the decision to the CWC.

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