Cong. demands White Paper

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 4. Objecting to the manner in which the Gujarat Government has handled relief and rehabilitation work in the quake-ravaged areas, the Congress today demanded a ``White Paper'' on it, containing the complete details.

The document should provide a detailed account on the disbursement of funds, relief material, especially foreign aid, and make the Gujarat Government accountable for ``all lapses.''

The party's demand came even as the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, rounded off his visit to the quake-hit areas of Gujarat. Congress workers held black-flag demonstrations in Bhuj during the visit, prompting Mr. Vajpayee to suggest that politicking on the issue could wait.

The Congress reacted rather sharply with the party spokesman, Mr. Anand Sharma, terming Mr. Vajpayee's remarks as ``incorrect and most unfortunate.'' The demonstration was against ``tardy relief work'' by Government agencies.

The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, he said, had presented a memorandum to the Prime Minister expressing dissatisfaction over the manner in which the State Government had so far ``mishandled relief work,'' as also to protest ``discrimination against Dalits and Muslims.''

Mr. Sharma said in Jamnagar alone, 8,000 complaints were given to the Lok Pal over the ``non-disbursement and diversion of relief material'' from international community. This had been documented by the NGOs and the Opposition. There were allegations of international relief material being sold in Ahmedabad and Mumbai and the International Red Cross had conveyed its displeasure over the handling of relief work. Japan, too, had asked for detailed accounts.

It was not fair to level charges against the Congress since in the face of such a calamity, the nation had closed its ranks and stood as one man in support of the quake-hit.

Answering other queries, Mr. Sharma denied that the party or its president, was consulted by the Government before bringing Manipur under Central rule. To a query whether the Congress endorsed imposition of Article 356 in the State, Mr. Sharma said it was not a question of simple endorsement. The Manipur `mess' was a creation of the BJP and the Samata Party.

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