New Delhi: CPI, a key ally of the UPA Government, on Monday accused Home Minister Shivraj Patil of trying to soft-pedal the issue of communal violence contending statistics do not show a decline in such disturbances.
CPI leader in the Lok Sabha Gurudas Dasgupta's attack came during a discussion on a calling attention motion, notice for which was given by CPI-M leader Basudeb Acharya and others, after Patil told the House that "the communal situation in the country by and large is under control".
The Home Minister has "given an innocent catalogue of incidents" and had not taken up the issue in proper perspective; Dasgupta said observing the Minister was attempting to "soft-pedal" the situation.
"Statistics do not show that communal incidents have declined," he said.
Regretting Dasgupta's remarks, Patil interrupted him saying the notice for the motion was apparently limited to the Vadodra violence and as per rules members could only seek clarifications.
Patil made it clear that Government was not opposed to a detailed discussion on the matter.
In midst of the verbal duel, Dasgupta accused Patil of being "impatient" and using his "wisdom and experience to scuttle him".
Intervening in the debate to stop "personal accusations", Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said in view of the importance of the issue and demand of a large number of MPs to speak on it, he was converting the motion to a detailed discussion under rule 193 which does not entail voting.
The House will now hold a threadbare debate on the communal situation across the country on Thursday.
Making a statement earlier on the calling attention motion, Patil said, "The communal situation in the country by and large is under control."
"All the same, it has become necessary for state governments, the Union government and the people at large to increase vigilance, take timely action and see that nothing is said or done by anybody which can fuel the fire of unnecessary communal violence," he said.
Making a mention of "only a few major incidents" including that in Vadodra, Patil said a larger discussion in the House could throw up views, which might prove useful in combating communal violence.
Giving details on the assistance extended by the Centre to the Gujarat government to contain violence in Vadodra following demolition of a dargah there, the Minister said, "State governments have been advised to take necessary steps to control communal disturbances."
"The Union government has been giving them information and assistance needed to maintain communal harmony," he added.
Furnishing figures about communal incidents in the past seven years, Patil said 787 incidents took place in year 2000 killing 243 people, 221 in 2001 that led to death of 221 people, 722 in 2002 killing 1130 people, 711 in 2003 killing 193, 677 in 2004 killing 134, 779 in 2005 killing 124 and 198 so far this year killing 58 people.
On Vadodra violence this month in which six people were killed and army was called out to control large-scale disturbances, he said "the situation there is now under control. However, vigil is being maintained."
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