PM APPEALS FOR AN END TO CONTROVERSY
The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee
has expressed distress over the undignified controversy involving
the Chief Election Commissioner and the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
In a statement, Shri Vajpayee appealed to all for an immediate
end to this unseemly controversy. Following is the text of the
statement of the Prime Minister:
"I am distressed by the undignified controversy
involving the Chief Election Commissioner and the Chief Minister
of Gujarat in the context of the Assembly elections in Gujarat.
Both are high Constitutional authorities and they must be given
the respect that is their due.
One may have differences over the decision or
the attendant observations of the Election Commission with regard
to the Assembly polls in Gujarat. There are Constitutional means
to deal with such matters. But no one should use improper language
or make indecorous insinuations in expressing their views. It
must be recongized by one and all that the maturity of our democracy
lies in all its institutions working within their Constitutional
limits, respecting each other’s domain and maintaining a proper
balance.
I appeal to all for an immediate end to this
unseemly controversy.
