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Probe panel blames legislators for violence in UP House

The Srivastava Commission, constituted to probe the unprecedented violence in the Uttar Pradesh assembly on October 21, 1997, has suggested amendments to the Representation of People Act by which erring members could be automatically recalled or suspended.

Justice Achal Behari Srivastava, the single constituent of the Commission, said in his 151-page report that the law-makers themselves had broken the law.

UP Assembly Speaker Kesri Nath Tripathi, who unsealed the report in the House, however, refused to divulge whether it specifically named any legislator.

''First let me go through the report," he told reporters, "Then I will discuss with the members of various parties about disclosures.''

The report suggested that the disciplinary rules of the House be made more stringent. A statutory code of conduct for the members should be evolved after a national debate, it said.

Justice Srivastava also stressed the need for imparting institutional training to the legislators in history, culture and political theory.

Further, a wing of the city police, headed by an Indian Police Service officer, should be trained to control such situations in the House. Securitymen in the assembly should be provided helmets and the number of house guards should be increased.

Justice Srivastava also suggested that the furniture in the House be fixed to the ground.

Microphones, chairs and even tables were used during the October 21 violence.

The report commended Police Inspector Surendra Kumar Mallick for the responsible way he discharged his duties, and Samajwadi party member Waqar Ahmad Shah who tried to save the inspector from attack.

UNI

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