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AGENCIES
PATNA, Sept 22: The Bihar administration today sounded a red alert in view of tomorrow's state-wide bandh called by the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal in protest against the Centre's move to impose President's Rule.
A decision on the bandh was taken by the RJD after the state cabinet held an emergent meeting, to review the situation arising out of the Centre's move.
Announcing this, RJD ministers Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav and Vijay Krishna said the bandh was called to protest against the "discriminatory, unconstitutional and draconian action" of the Union Cabinet.
``It is a murder of democracy and politically motivated move'' when the Rabri Devi ministry has already won confidence vote with thumping majority, there can be no justification for this.'
Party MLAs also held a dharna in front of the Raj Bhawan. Meanwhile, the Congress Legislature Party leader, Ramashray Prasad Singh, said his party's MLAs along with those of CPM and Revolutionary Communist Party would also join the RJD members in the march toRaj Bhavan.
Terming the Union Cabinet's decision as ``unconstitutional and arbitrary,'' Singh told reporters that it should be opposed tooth and nail.
Charging Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee with adopting ``a discriminatory attitude,'' he said Vajpayee should have also dismissed Kalyan Singh government in Uttar Pradesh where he (Vajpayee) had allegedly said the situation was volatile.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police, K A Jacob said all police stations had been put on ``maximum alert' and additional companies of para-military forces were being rushed to different places to maintain order during the bandh.
He said the state Home Department had already approached the Centre to provide 25 additional companies of para-military forces to tackle the situation. Besides, four companies of Central forces were expected to arrive here from Jamshedpur.
Jacob said special attention was being paid to protect vital installations and railways, post offices and public sector undertakings.
Vandalismcausing extensive damage to railway property marked the ruling party's Bihar bandh last month to protest against the CBI raids on the official residence of the Chief Minister, Rabri Devi, in connection with a fresh disproportionate asset case against her husband, Laloo Prasad Yadav.
Jacob said all the district police superintendents had been asked to deploy available policemen in sensitive pockets in consultation with their respective district magistrates.
Official sources said prohibitory orders under section 144 CRPC would also be enforced in different districts. JMM(S) vice-president Suraj Mandal has appealed to the people of Jharkhand areas to oppose the bandh. Meanwhile, RJD's Bihar unit vice-president Karamchand Bhagat today resigned from the primary membership of the party in protest against the RJD's opposition to the Bihar Reorganisation Bill, 1998.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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