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Centre to be cautious on Bihar govt dismissal: Advani

Kryztoff de Breza in Paris

Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani has said that the National Democratic Alliance government will not dismiss the Bihar government unless it receives support from the opposition parties.

Advani, who is on a two-day visit to France, told rediff.com that the central government had once tried to impose direct rule in Bihar, but the move failed owing to the absence of support in the two Houses of Parliament.

"This time we need clear statements of support from the Opposition before we initiate any action," he said.

Advani refused to comment on whether the law-and-order situation in Bihar had deteriorated to the extent that it warranted intervention from the Centre. "Sitting here, I don't want to comment on the situation in Bihar. And anyway, the prime minister is looking into the matter and has called for a meeting on the issue," he said.

He said the latest massacre did not really constitute an escalation in caste-related violence in Bihar, saying it was only the second such incident in recent months.

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