The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), having eight
MPs in the Lok Sabha, today said it would vote against the Government
in the House on the Censure Motion on the Gujarat situation.

Announcing this at the party's extended Working Committee meeting
here, Pawar said NCP Parliamentary Party has decided to participate
in the debate in the Lok Sabha under Rule 184, which entails voting,
and all its MPs would vote against the Government.

The Party has been demanding dismissal of the Gujarat Government in
the aftermath of communal violence in the state and implementation of
President's Rule there.

"Since they (State Government) have utterly failed in carrying out
their constitutional obligations, the Centre should invoke Article
355 or Article 356 and dismiss the Gujarat Government and implement
President's Rule in the State," he said.

Pawar charged Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with not taking any
strong steps in Gujarat and issuing statements "which were unbecoming
of a Prime Minister".

By: A Chalomumbai Correspondent
April 25,2002