Lok Sabha Debates
Made A Statement On The Bomb Plast Incident Occurred At Inter-State Bus Terminus ... on 27 July, 1998
Title: Made a statement on the bomb plast incident occurred at Inter-State Bus Terminus Delhi on 26 July, 1998.
15.13 hrs THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI L.K. ADVANI): Mr. Chairman, Sir, on 26th July, 1998 at about 11.30 hours, a powerful bomb explosion occurred in a Haryana Roadways Bus soon after it had arrived at the Inter-State Bus Terminus, Delhi. The rear portion of the bus has completely ripped off and four other buses which were nearby, were also partly damaged. The unfortunate incident led to the death of two persons and injury to the other four persons. The loss of life is too precious to be compensated. However, the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi have, in order to provide some immediate relief to the victims, announced an ex gratia payment of Rupees one lakh to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in this incident and Rs. 10,000 to each of those who sustained injuries.
The investigation into this incident is in progress. It, however, appears that this is a part of diabolical design perpetuated by elements inimical to the security and integrity of this country over the last few years. The National Capital Territory of Delhi and its adjourning areas have since 11th December, 1996 witnessed as many as 40 such blasts including the last one which occurred yesterday.
I would like to inform this august House that Delhi Police has been able to solve 36 bomb blasts incidents out of these 40 with the arrest of 14 suspected militants, including 7 foreign nationals during the last few months. There are reports that these bomb blasts were organised by the ISI outfit of Pakistan led by a militant group headed by Zaki-ur-Rehman and Abdul Karim Tunda.
In addition, Delhi Police and Hyderabad Police have, through sustained efforts, been able to expose Pakistan ISI/ Lashkar-e-Taiba network operating in India as a result of which four Pak nationals, one Bangladeshi national and a key Indian collaborator based in Hyderabad were arrested. A substantial quantity of arms and ammunition including 50 kilograms of RDX was recovered from this gang on 1st July, 1998.
This was followed by another breakthrough when Delhi Police, on 10th July 1998, recovered 18 kilograms of RDX and sophisticated timer devices from a truck in Punjabi Bagh area of Delhi. This led to the arrest of two persons suspected to be Punjab militants.
I take this opportunity to assure this august House that the Government will not leave any stone unturned to eliminate any threat to the security and integrity of our great country. ...(Interruptions)
SHRI K. KARUNAKARAN (THIRUVANANTHAPURAM): Today morning the Leader of the Opposition and Members from this side raised a number of issues. ...(Interruptions)
"> श्री मोहन सिंह (देवरिया): सभापति महोदय, भारत की राजधानी में इस तरह की गतवधियां हो रही हैं और भारत सरकार उस पर काबू नहीं पा रही है। जो सरकार सुरक्षा के नाम पर बनी, उस सरकार के जमाने में राजधानी में दर्दनाक घटनायें हो रही हैं। इस तरह के बयान सरकार की तरफ से आ रहे हैं, यह बहुत ही अफसोस की बात है। ग्ृाह मंत्री को त्यागपत्र दे देना चाहिये कयोंकि ऐसी घटनाओं के पीछे भारत की राजधानी में आई.एस.आई. काम कर रही है।
... (व्यवधान) .. सभापति महोदय, इससे अधिक शर्म की बात और कया होगी जब ग्ृाह मंत्री यहां पर बयान देते हैं यह सरकार कारगर कार्यवाही नहीं कर रही है। ऐसा राजधानी में हो रहा है। यदि दिल्ली सरकार द्वारा कार्यवाही नही होती तो ग्ृाह मंत्री को त्यागपत्र दे देना चाहिये, यह मेरी मांग है।
MR. CHAIRMAN : Please take your seat.
">SHRI N.K. PREMCHANDRAN (QUILON): What about other incidents in Delhi? Are they also because of the ISI? About so many other incidents also we have raised questions.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please take your seat. I will tell you the position. Rule 372 says:
"A statement may be made by a Minister on a matter of public importance with the consent of the Speaker but no question shall be asked at the time the statement is made." श्री मोहन सिंह : सभापति महोदय, मैं इस पर कोई कवश्चन नही कर रहा हूं।
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Regarding law and order situation he will give a statement tomorrow.
SHRI L.K. ADVANI: Sir, this morning, three issues relating to the Ministry of Home Affairs were raised. One was about the bomb blast; the second was in respect of a lady Member, Shrimati Rama Devi, who spoke about the security provided to her; the third was the general situation of crime in Delhi (Interruptions) and the fourth was the Maharashtra Government's decision in respect of certain people living there, whom it had deported. These were the four issues that were brought to my notice by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. (Interruptions) I am not yielding. (Interruptions)
I said, `I will deal with every one of them. So far as the first issue of bomb blast is concerned, I would make a statement in the afternoon because it occurred yesterday. So far as the Maharashtra issue is concerned, we would have to get information from Maharashtra and, therefore, I will make a statement in that regard tomorrow. (Interruptions) In respect of Shrimati Rama Devi, who had met me personally, I instructed the Home Secretary in her presence to provide mobile security to her. On the fourth issue, I pointed out that in the list of questions for tomorrow the first question raised by an hon. Member from the Opposition relates to crime in Delhi so that we could have ample opportunity to discuss it. I do not want to make a general statement. (Interruptions) I am not yielding. (Interruptions)
I have myself publicly said that the Government is not happy with the law and order situation in Delhi. In fact, our view has been that in the last four or five years, the internal security climate in the whole country has been deteriorating. (Interruptions)
SHRI PRAMOTHES MUKHERJEE (BERHAMPORE) : This is why we are asking this question.
SHRI L.K. ADVANI: But I said that I will say whatever I have to say during the course of the Question Hour tomorrow. (Interruptions)
SHRI A.C. JOS (MUKUNDAPURAM): What about the Gujarat problem? (Interruptions)
SHRI L.K. ADVANI: Shri Jos, I am not yielding. I have not yet completed. (Interruptions) All right, I will answer that. There is a demand for everything. This episode which is being referred to took place last week. If the hon. Member had raised it in the House this morning, I would have been able to say when I would reply on this point.
I will not be able to say anything now except to say that I believe that though the situation is not happy in so far as law and order in Delhi is concerned, the manner in which the Delhi Police is handling it is quite satisfactory. (Interruptions) In my statement on the bomb blast, I have said, `To be able to find out the culprits in thirty-six out of forty bomb blasts that have taken place in the last one and a half years is no mean achievement.' It is a singularly good achievement. Therefore, I say that even though something has been achieved, a lot more needs to be done so that there is a sense of security in the mind of the average citizen of Delhi and this Government is determined to achieve that. (Interruptions)
SHRI PRAMOTHES MUKHERJEE : We demand a thorough discussion on the internal security scenario. श्री मोहन सिंह : दिल्ली की कानून और व्यवस्था को सरकार सुधार नहीं पा रही है और इसके लिए जो दोषी अधिकारी हैं, उनका बचाव कर रही है। इसके विरोध में हम सदन से वाक-आउट करते हैं।
15.24 hrs. (At this stage Shri Mohan Singh and some other honourable members left the House.) MR. CHAIRMAN : He has agreed to make a statement tomorrow.
SHRI A.C. JOS : When he replies tomorrow, let him kindly have some reply regarding the Gujarat incident also. श्रीमती रमा देवी (मोतीहारी): सभापति जी, मेरी बात पर ध्यान दिया जाए। ... (व्यवधान)
MR. CHAIRMAN: The hon. Minister has agreed to reply tomorrow.
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : Please take your seat. Now, we will take up Matters under Rule 377.
... (Interruptions)
KUMARI MAMATA BANERJEE (CALCUTTA SOUTH): Sir, we should have a general discussion on the law and order situation existing in the whole country.... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Madam, please take your seat. The hon. Minister of Home Affairs has already said that he would give the details tomorrow.
... (Interruptions) श्री प्रभुनाथ सिंह (महाराजगंज): सभापति महोदय, पूरे देश की वधि व्यवस्था खराब है, इसलिए मैं आपसे कहना चाहता हूं कि इस सदन में पूरे देश की वधि व्यवस्था पर चर्चा कराइये।
... (व्यवधान) कुमारी ममता बनर्जी (कलकत्ता दक्षिण) : सर, पूरे देश की कानून और व्यवस्था की स्िथति पर चर्चा कराइये।
... (व्यवधान)
SHRI RAJESH PILOT (DAUSA): Sir, we had raised the issue of atrocities committed against the women in the States of Rajasthan and Gujarat. ... (Interruptions) An assurance was given by this Government that a statement would be made. But, so far the statement has not been made. ... (Interruptions) The first phase of the Budget Session is over. ... (Interruptions) Now, the Session is also going to be over. ... (Interruptions) Till now the Government has not made the statement. This is the credibility of the Minister. ... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: The hon. Minister has just now stated that he would make a statement tomorrow.
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please sit down.
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: You can raise all these issues tomorrow during the `Zero Hour'. The hon. Minister has already stated that he would reply tomorrow.
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Now, we will take up matters under Rule 377.
... (Interruptions)
... (Interruptions)
MAJOR GENERAL BHUVAN CHANDRA KHANDURI, AVSM (GARHWAL): Sir, the law and order situation in all the States must be discussed -- not only in Rajasthan, but also in West Bengal and Bihar. ... (Interruptions) श्री प्रभुनाथ सिंह : सभापति महोदय, कया निर्णय किया ... (व्यवधान) सभापति महोदय : जब आप हमारी बात सुनने को तैयार नहीं हैं, तो हम कया करें। ... (व्यवधान)
We want a full-fledged discussion on the law and order situation prevailing all over the country. ... (Interruptions) श्री लाल कृष्ण आडवाणी: सभापति जी, जो सवाल उठाए गए हैं, उनके परिणाम स्वरूप जो प्रतक़ियाएं हुई हैं, उनको अगर मैं ध्यान में रखूंगा, तो सालों से इस सदन की जो परंपरा रही है उस परंपरा का उल्लंधन करने का मैं अपराधी होऊंगा। इस सदन में हम राज्यों की कानून और व्यवस्था की स्िथति पर चर्चा नहीं करते हैं। चूंकि दिल्ली को पूर्ण राज्य का दर्जा अभी तक नहीं मिला है इसलिए उसका दायित्व हमारा है। अत: दिल्ली की कानून व्यवस्था की चर्चा हम यहां पूरी तरह से कर सकते हैं। ... (व्यवधान)
MR. CHAIRMAN : Please hear him. Let him complete. श्री लाल कृष्ण आडवाणी: ममता जी का कहना है कि जिस प्रकार से मांग की जा रही है उसके परिणाम स्वरूप तो स्वाभाविक रूप से यह चाहेंगे कि पश्िचम बंगाल की कानून व्यवस्थी की चर्चा यहां होनी चाहिए, बिहार की कानून व्यवस्था की स्िथति की चर्चा यहां होनी चाहिए, लेकिन यहां पर राजेश पायलट जी और करुणाकरण जी जैसे प्रमुख सदस्य बैठे हैं, उनको पता है कि अगर कोई घटना हो जाती है, तो उस घटना की जानकारी प्राप्त करने का अधिकार है, ऐसी परंपरा रही है। आज सुबह एक घटना का उल्लेख हुआ, उसके बारे में मैंने तुरन्त कहा कि महाराष्ट्र सरकार से जानकारी प्राप्त करके मैं वकतव्य दूंगा, लेकिन कुल मिलाकर कानून-व्यवस्था की स्िथति के ऊपर चाहे वह महाराष्ट्र हो या प.बंगाल, सदन में बहस करना उचित नहीं होगा, यह मेरा निवेदन है।
... (व्यवधान)
... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: He will be making a statement tomorrow regarding the law and order situation in the country.
... (Interruptions)
15.34 hrs (Mr. Speaker in the Chair) श्री मोतीलाल वोरा (राजनांदगांव): सभापति जी, मैंने महात्मा गांधी जी के बारे में जो बात कही है, उसके बारे में ग्ृाह मंत्री, श्री लाल कृष्ण आडवाणी जी ने कुछ नहीं कहा।
... (व्यवधान) अध्यक्ष महोदय : यह जीरो ऑवर नहीं है।
... (व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Advani, would you like to respond to the law and order situation?
SHRI L.K. ADVANI: I have already said about it.
SHRI RAJESH PILOT : Sir, he has already responded and I was reacting to it...(Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: You have to observe some procedures here. Please understand it. श्री राजेश पायलट :अध्यक्ष महोदय, माननीय ग्ृाह मंत्री जी ने कहा ... (व्यवधान) आपके यहां ही नहीं बल्िक सारे सदन की चिन्ता थी कि देश की कानून एवं व्यवस्था में कमजोरी आई है चाहे इधर के बोलने वाले हों या उधर के बोलने वाले हों। सभी सदस्य कह रहे थे लेकिन ग्ृाह मंत्री जी ने कहा कि प्रदेशों की कानून व्यवस्था के बारे में इस हाउस में डिसकस नहीं होगा। उन्होंने यह बात सच कही है कयोंकि यह पार्िलयामैंट के ट्रेडीशन के हिसाब से ऐसा नहीं होता। लेकिन ग्ृाह मंत्री जी ने खुद चिंता भी जताई। कल बी.जे.पी. की महिलाओं के बीच वे बोल रहे थे कि उन्हें कानून व्यवस्था पर बहुत चिंता है। इसी तरह सेंसटिव स्टेट हैं चाहे जम्मू कश्मीर हो या नार्थ ईस्ट, आज आपने अखबार में पढ़ा होगा कि एक पार्टी के एम.एल.सी. कह रहे हैं कि वे इस्तीफा देकर बंदूक उठाने के लिए तैयार हो रहे हैं, इससे आप देखिये कि सिचुएशन कितनी खराब हो रही है।
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Home Minister has already responded to it. श्री राजेश पायलट : चाहे जम्मू कश्मीर की बात हो चाहे नार्थ ईस्ट की बात हो। ... (व्यवधान) चाहे इंटरनल सिकयोरिटी की बात हो। यदि इस पर सरकार डिस्कशन के लिए मान जाये तो अच्छा होगा। अगर ग्ृाह मंत्रालय पर डिस्कशन हो जाती तो किसी सदस्य को आज यह सवाल उठाने की जरूरत न पड़ती लेकिन ग्ृाह मंत्रालय पर डिस्कशन नहीं हुई। इसलिए यह सरकार जब चाहे तब इसे नियम १९३ मके अन्तर्गत चर्चा के लिए ले ले ताकि सब माननीय सदस्य अपनी बात रख सके और सरकार को भी इसका ज्ञान हो जाये।
SHRI L.K. ADVANI: We can have a full discussion in the House on the internal security environment in the country...(Interruptions)
SHRI RAJESH PILOT: We must have a full discussion particularly on the States where the situation has gone bad can be considered.
MR. SPEAKER: Now, Matters under Rule 377.
_________