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The Rediff Interview/Sushil Kumar Modi

'Even the Left parties, including the CPI-M, have underscored that law and order simply does not exist in Bihar. So I ask you, when does one call for President's rule if not now?'

Like a ghost haunting the state, the spectre of President's rule in Bihar has once again loomed large with Home Minister Lal Kishinchand Advani conceding that Article 356 might after all be invoked there. And keeping the Centre on its toes over the issue, with his frequent visits to Delhi, is senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Bihar, Sushil Kumar Modi.

In an interview with Tara Shankar Sahay, Modi explains why he thinks there is no other alternative before the Centre for saving the state.

The President had recently returned for consideration the Union Cabinet's recommendation to impose central rule in Bihar. Why then has your party picked up the issue again?

If rapes of minor girls are committed in Bihar every day, if women in the towns and villages are molested in broad daylight, if murders and kidnappings are the order of the day and if law and order has totally ceased to exist to be replaced by the 'jungle raj' of Laloo and his RJD henchmen, then nothing can prevent us from raising the issue of President's rule in Bihar.

Just take a look at the newspapers -- not a single day passes without the Rabri Devi government's reign of terror being felt by the people of this state. We will be failing in our duty if we ignore the naked fact that Bihar is crying for Article 356 of the Constitution.

But the Opposition parties have said the demand for imposing President's rule in Bihar is uncalled for...

(Interrupting) A lot of water has flowed in the Ganga since K R Narayanan returned for reconsideration the Cabinet's recommendation. Come, make a tour of Bihar and see things for yourself. Even the Left parties, including the Communist Party of India-Marxist, have underscored that law and order simply does not exist. I ask you, when does one call for President's rule if not now?

Reports in newspapers suggest that even the Patna high court is not satisfied with the law and order situation in the state, is that right?

Bhai, that is the understatement of the year. If people believe in the Constitution and the rule of law, they have got to respect what the Patna high court has been saying all along. That is, under the RJD governments of first Laloo Prasad Yadav and now his wife Rabri Devi, the law and order machinery has totally broken down. Laloo and his RJD are determined to cling to power by hook or by crook, and that is why the RJD leaders have become insensitive to public opinion. In murder and rape cases, criminals are going score-free, thanks to their patronage by Laloo and his men.

I need not give you documentary evidence, the newspapers are full of them. I shudder to think what level the affairs in Bihar have descended to. Despite proof, the supposed guardians of law are delaying investigation into criminal cases including rape at the behest of their RJD mentors. Much as I respect Narayanan and the Constitution, I think everybody concerned will have to take cognisance of the 'jungle raj' in Bihar.

But how do you react to the allegation that the BJP is trying to impose President's rule in Bihar out of sheer political vendetta?

I have already underscored the ground realities and the breakdown of the law and order machinery in Bihar. Despite Rashtrapati Bhavan's decision on the Union Cabinet's recommendation, I think the grim reality has dawned that Bihar is a fit case for President's rule. As for ourselves, we will continue to agitate until Article 356 of the Constitution is invoked in Bihar.

What role does the state Governor S S Bhandari have in all this?

A good question. Can you imagine a situation where the governor is being threatened? Well, it is happening in Patna. And you know who is responsible for all this? Obviously, Laloo Yadav and his men. I am not saying all this, Bhandariji has conveyed all that should not happen in Bihar to all those who matter.

The RJD president is a wily politician and his recent action in rejecting the call for a separate Jharkhand state appears to have won him a lot of support in central and north Bihar. Could you comment?

Certain political moves in no way lessen the stark reality that it is because of the active connivance of the Rabri Devi government that law and order has totally disappeared from Bihar. The endorsement of crime and criminals by the RJD regime will be catastrophic for Laloo and his men, just wait and see.

Frankly, do you believe the President will now heed the call for central rule in Bihar?

I think speculation has given way to reality now, that President's rule in Bihar is inevitable, thanks to the capers of Laloo and his men. I think the authorities at the Centre will veer around to our views.

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