ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Vajpayee to visit Dangs district this week

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is likely to visit the troubled Dangs district in south Gujarat on January 9 or 10. The National Commission on Minorities will visit the state capital tomorrow.

Briefing reporters after the weekly Cabinet meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel said Vajpayee's programme is being finalised.

The decision to hold an inquiry into the attacks on Christians will be taken after Vajpayee's visit.

Patel said some quarters had demanded a ban on all kinds of conversion by enacting a law and promised to consider it.

Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya, who was also present, said the NCM team, comprising its vice-chairman Prof Bawa Singh and James Massey, will discuss the matter with the chief secretary, director-general of police, and other officials during its day-long visit.

The commission, he said, will not visit the Dangs. Private delegations, including representatives of Christians, could, however, call on the commission, he added.

According to Patel, a "false campaign" is being run about the Dangs incidents, which had tarnished the Gujarat's image internationally. He said the total loss of property of Christians was just Rs 400,000, including a jeep costing Rs 250,000.

Director of Information M P Mankad said he would soon write to the editors of those newspapers that had "misreported" the events and draw their attention to the guidelines of the Press Council of India.

Meanwhile, Pandya said, day curfew was lifted in Amod town of Broach district as the situation is almost normal now after last week's communal clashes that left two persons dead. Night curfew will, however, continue as a precautionary measure.

RELATED REPORT:

Dangs limps along road to peace

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report