NEW DELHI, July 23: Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral indicated that the Centre could consider dismissal of the Bihar chief minister and imposition of President's rule only in the event of a verdict given by the courts holding Laloo Prasad Yadav prima facie guilty of his involvement in the fodder scam.Gujral, during his series of meetings with the leaders of the United Front for the past two days including an hour-long discussion with the former prime minister H D Deve Gowda at South Bloc office, said he could not impose President's rule in Bihar merely because a ``police station''(Central Bureau of Investigation) had filed a charge-sheet against an elected chief minister. The prime minister explained that he was not even allowed to make a statement in the Lok Sabha today on the Bihar situation. He had not favoured the continuance of Laloo Prasad Yadav after the CBI filed the charge-sheet and even asked him to step down.He said that there was a near unanimity among the major political parties that the Bihar chief minister should resign. ``But there is no unanimity on the issue of dismissing an elected chief minister,'' he added.He wanted to take the House into the confidence in this regard and explain the constraints in dismissing an elected government. In fact Gujral told some of the leaders that his written statement had dealt with major issues involved in the case. But it was strange that he was not allowed by the Opposition to explain the situation. Gujral made it clear that he was neither a ``helpless'' prime minister and nor was he protecting corrupt politicians holding high public office because of political expediency. But as prime minister, his first task was to protect the Constitution and follow the rule of law, he said.Gujral also explained that he was not protecting Laloo but merely assuring the states in a federal structure that the Centre was not using central agencies for political purposes. He asserted that he had no sympathy for the corrupt. ``Probity in public life is our duty. But how can I impose it on a legitimately elected chief minister,'' Gujral asked. He said sharp differences existed on the usage of Article 356 at the recently held meeting of the Inter-State Council. While the chief ministers agreed that the Article be used in ``national interest'' and to combat ``terrorism'' there was no unanimity on applying the same to protect secularism or corruption.Therefore, his government decided to wait for a verdict from the courts as any opinion formulated either by the CBI, committee of secretaries or even by the Governor could be considered biased. ``And if the courts come to the conclusion that a prima facie case existed against the chief minister, we will act. '' Gujral said an impression was being created that he was protecting the corrupt. This was wrong and baseless. But he could not dismiss a government because there was a public perception about the corruption of a high dignitary, he added.
