Relief camps will not be closed down: Advani

Asserting that the government would do everything necessary to restore normalcy in Gujarat, Home Minister L K Advani on Friday said that the state government had not taken any decision to close down relief camps for the riot victims.
Advani told a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry that even if there had been no resolution in the Rajya Sabha on the Gujarat issue, Article 355 of the Constitution cast upon the Central government a Constitutional duty to protect a state in times of internal strife or external threat.
"The Rajya Sabha resolution has only made the government more conscious about this obligation," he said.
Responding to concern voiced by some MPs on winding up of some relief camps in the troubled state, the Home Minister said "the state government has not taken any such decision".

Sharing the members' concern on continuing violence in Gujarat, Advani said "there are reliable reports (including intercepts) that speak of underworld elements being in touch with their mentors in Pakistan regarding retaliatory actions in Gujarat and even in parts of Maharashtra".

Maintaining that help from across the border was being sought for supply of arms, ammunition and explosives for undertaking such acts of violence, he said "Pakistan-based leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba and elements of gangs of Dawood Ibrahim and late Abdul Latif are, in particular, involved in such conspiracies."

Referring to the appointment of K P S Gill as security advisor to Gujarat Chief Minister Ndrendra Modi, Advani said that it was the state government which took the decision, but in consultation with the Centre.

The Cabinet Secretary here, he said, was also monitoring the situation with regard to relief and rehabilitation of riot victims.

Observing that the Gujarat High Court had "appreciated" the steps taken by the state government for management of the camps, Advani said that the Court stated that the state had already appointed S M Bukhari, a retired IAS officer, as chief coordinator for relief and rehabilitation. It has also increased cash assistance from Rs 5 per person per day to Rs 7.

The state authorities had also taken care to some extent of trying to sort out the problem ventilated by the petitioners, the Court said. Bureau Report