---

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR (Ballia) : Mr. Chairman, Sir, this controversial matter Is being discussed for past few days. Many journalists and friends have asked me to comment on it. But I have no comments to offer because the entire nation and the whole world knows the truth. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji and your leaders are very much aware of the true position.

Mr. Chairman, Sir, all I have to say is that I do not wish to take any credit for the permission given at that time. That permission was given by the Government of this country. It is not important as to who had given the permission. But I would like to say to my friends who had levelled serious allegations against me and especially to my Communist friends and these from the Congress Party that I fail to understand the reasons for their having maintained silence over it for last seven days. If that statement is correct and since Gujral ji is my close friend, I fail to understand as to why did he not lend his support at that time. All I have to say about it is that I do not change my statement with the change in times. I stick to what I had said earlier. At that time also I had said that there was nothing wrong in it and even today I believe it to be the right move. Other people may think about it and ponder over it. If they have not lost their voice and can speak out, they will do at least some justice to their conscience.