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BJP aims to get Sonia out of Jallianwala Bagh Trust

Onkar Singh

After having removed Sonia Gandhi from the post of chairperson of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, the National Democratic Alliance has now started campaign to remove her from the Jallianwala Bagh Trust.

"She was elected chairperson of the trust on August 7 last year after members of the Trust decided that since the prime minister did not have sufficient time, they ought to elect someone who could devote some time. Since Mrs Gandhi, in her capacity as the chairperson of the Indian National Congress, is also a ex-officio member of the trust, she was unanimously elected chairperson of the trust," member of Parliament R L Bhatia told rediff.com.

But he said the Bharatya Janata Party is hell-bent on removing the Congress president from the Jalliawala Bagh Trust. To this end, the government has frozen a Rs 25 million grant to the trust, he said.

"When Rao was the prime minister, he had sanctioned Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million). When I K Gujral became the prime minister, he sanctioned Rs 5 million. But the present government has frozen the grant and the deputy commissioner of Amritsar has been directed not to release the money," Bhatia said.

When Human Resource Development Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi visited Amritsar on February 13, he skipped Jallianwala Bagh though he visited Golden temple and Durgiana temple. He also addressed a press conference, accusing the JBT of not doing anything constructive and wasting money.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP leaders feel that Sonia Gandhi's election to the post of the chairperson of this historical trust is an insult to the national heroes who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country. "What does she know about the Indian freedom struggle and Jallianwala Bagh. R L Bhatia managed to get her elected," asked one leader.

Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and the governor, who are also important members of the Jalliawala Bagh Trust, were not present at the meeting that Sonia Gandhi was made chairperson.

"Former prime minister Deve Gowda is also a member of the trust they could have elected him as chairman of the trust. Why Sonia Gandhi only?" asked a prominent BJP leader from Punjab.

Bhatia denied the allegations.

"They are now raising a hue and cry because Sonia Gandhi is the chairperson. They want to remove her from this post. We have already submitted a beautification plan to the deputy commissioner of Amritsar. We want to have a light and sound programme on the lines of the one we have at the Red Fort in Delhi. But this is possible only if funds are released," said Bhatia.

Traditionally the prime minister is made the chairman of the trust. Sonia Gandhi is the second person holding this post while not being a prime minister. The first chairman of the trust was Mahatma Gandhi. The trust is governed by the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951.

While Sonia supporters hope that the controversy will die down in due course, BJP supporters say there will be no let-up in the pressure till Sonia Gandhi quits the trust." Vajpayee must become the chairman of the trust as per the tradition," they say.

According to Bhatia, the JBT has no money in its coffers.

"We have no money. We have to depend upon government grants. The Punjab government has, till date, not given a single rupee to the trust. We have brought about some major changes in the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial.

The trust has set up an Amar Jawan Jyoti with help from the Indian Oil Corporation. "While the IOC wants the Jyoti inaugurated by one of their top officials, we want it inaugurated by a freedom fighter. The matter is stuck there. I hope we can soon sort this out," he said.

But for the present the matter that question is whether Sonia Gandhi will quit the post and Vajpayee take over. And till a decision is taken, the trust will continue living in limbo.

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