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THE PRIME MINISTER (SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR) : Mr. Speaker, Sir, regarding riots in Delhi and the anxiety expressed thereon.... (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : We are equally concerned about that. This is a matter of sorrow and shame for us that riots occurred in a city like Delhi. Those who were behind these riots... (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : I have not given any certificate to the people responsible for these riots... (Interruptions)...

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : Do you want to hear us or you want to express grief. (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : Mr. Speaker, I was saying that..... (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : Permission was granted. Our officers granted them permission. The procession was not taken out without permission)... (Interruptions)... the organisers of the procession gave assurance that it would be a peaceful procession and peace was maintained during the procession. But when the procession reached Idgah maidan, some people delivered inflammatory speeches and then the tension mounted... [Interruptions)...

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Members of Sikh Students Federation Organised that procession.... (Interruptions) A section of Sikh Students Federation and some people of Muslim Jamat are there in the Minorities Front (Interruptions) and it does not reflect patriotism and secularism... (Interruptions) I just want to say that... (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : They asked for the statement. If they do not hear, what can I do? (Interruptions)

I shall tell every fact before you (Interruptions)

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I shall reveal every fact and give all information about that. Why do you worry about it? There is an organisation named Minorities Front, in which some people of the Sikh Students Federation and some persons of the Muslim Jamat are involved. (Interruptions)

Please hear me. I shall tell you. (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : Mr. Speaker, Sir, I was saying that I do not want to conceal the name of any person but let me complete the sentence first. I said that a section of Sikh Students Federation... (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : That was perhaps Mehta group. People of Muslim front were also there. The person whom they are calling as Congressman is Shri F.M. Khan. (Interruptions) .

Mr. Speaker, Sir, his name was also there among the organisers (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : I do not have his name. His name may be there in the list of organisers but I do not have any such information. I shall check it. (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : Sir, I shall look into it Shri FM Khan... (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : That I know (Interruptions)

I know that, Please sit down. Shri F.M. Khan had left the Congress Party many days back. I have directed the police that the persons, who are responsible for the riots whether they belong to Congress Party, Janata Dal (S) or any other party, should be apprehended without making any discrimination (Interruptions)

Sir, my friend Shri Khurana has rightly said that I could not take him to the riot affected areas. Whenever riots take place it is an administrative matter and the Ministers should not go to the riot affected areas. But time and again rumours were being spread that incidents of arson and killings are taking place in the city. Mr. Speaker, Sir, during lunch at your residence I asked the leaders of the opposition parties that we all should go there and try to check riots but later on all of a sudden I had to go there alone. Shri Advani asked me to contact Vijay Kumar Malhotra ji but Malhotraji was not at his residence. I went there along with the local workers and no worker of any political party....

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : Mr. Speaker, Sir, it was not my intention to ignore the hon. Members but it happened because I was not aware of the facts. (Interruptions)

Don’t think that you can put words in my mouth. I will express my own views on it.

Just now, Shri Khurana has said that BJP has not been given coverage on T. V. Sir, through you, I would like to request all the leaders as to what should be the role of Doordarshan under such circumstances. I would ask the Doordarshan today itself to record the statements of all the leaders for maintaining peace and harmony in the country and no party will be ignored whether it is BJP or some other party. I do not know as to how the news was telecasted on television. You know that Doordarshan has developed some practices and Shri Khuranaji is more responsible than me in developing those practices. Therefore, I would say that they should bear with it for few more days, thereafter everything will be set right.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the police acted with great restrain under these very difficult conditions and circumstances and today the situation is under control. Tension is still prevailing in certain areas but there is nothing to be panicky.

Sir, through you, I would like to assure the House that the peace will be restored by all means.

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : The slogans were so clumsy that I cannot repeat them.

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : If the police start taking action on objectionable slogans that would be very difficult. (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : The police has its own limitations. I would never direct the police to take repressive measures on a crowd of 10,000 people for merely saying something or raising slogans. I certainly admit that the slogans were most objectionable but at that time police could not take any action against them.

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : Sir, if they are annoyed over this, I invite all the MPs of Delhi to accompany me to riot affected areas immediately after the adjournment of the House and they would be given full coverage on T. V. (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will not use that language which the hon. Member is using. I treat all the Members of the House equal and it is not my intention to take sides. I would like to assure the hon. Members that every Member of the House irrespective of his party affiliation or he may have political differences with me up to any extent will enjoy equal status and respect. Therefore, I appeal to the hon. Members that they would do more good to the nation if they do not show provocation on the question of riots. We all should work unitedly for restoring peace and normalcy. We can have many other occasions to cross swords with each other but on the question of riots we should demonstrate unity so that we could restore peace and normalcy in the country.