It was a different Sonia Gandhi today at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session. The Congress president surprised many by elevating Defence Minister A K Antony to the number two position (after Manmohan Singh) twice in her speeches. Previously, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s name figured immediately after the Prime Minister in her speeches.
If this is seen as an unintended error, Gandhi deliberately resorted to a rare dose of humour to drive home an important point of discipline in the party. After the AICC unanimously asked her to form the next Congress Working Committee, avoiding elections, Gandhi drifted from her prepared speech and quipped, “You have given me this responsibility but I must say this is not an easy task however easy it might look like. Someone, somewhere, will crib that he’s been left out.”
As the loyal party leaders started laughing, she continued, “People will complain why he has been left out and another person has found place in the committee. But if you have given me the responsibility, then some of you will have to bear the losses.”
Finally, Gandhi also had a word of consolation for the probable losers: “In the Congress, if you are patient, kabhi na kabhi number aa hi jata hai (today or tomorrow, your turn will come).”
Congress managers pointed out that there was a message to maintain discipline. In the party that regularly witnesses revolt and exodus over non-inclusion in key posts, Gandhi is now trying to bring in more discipline. Earlier, in her speeches, she also mentioned “(the assembly elections) will be an important test for us — a test that we must prepare with commitment and unity. We must prepare ourselves at the grassroots level, whether it is timely selection of deserving candidates, systematic campaigning or booth management.”
The Congress, which is increasingly trying to find its own space by shunning allies in states like Bihar and UPA, also had a strong message for its allies in the AICC session today.
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“We are in coalition both at the Centre and in a number of states. We respect such coalitions. But this does not mean we give up party-building activities or cede political space,” Gandhi told the gathering.
Cong admits facing new situation in J&K
Admitting that the party faces “a new situation” in Jammu and Kashmir, Gandhi hinted that talks with separatists are a necessity to resolve the Kashmir problem. “There is no doubt that we must give priority to the state’s development. This is an ongoing process. At the same time, there has to be a meaningful political dialogue with all sections of society and with all regions of the state,” she said.
Accuses RSS of terror links
The Congress today went full blast in attacking the Rashtryiya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its sister organisations, accusing them of being involved in terrorism and held that the Allahabad High Court verdict did not condone the demolition of Babri Masjid but skirted the raging issue of housing scam in Mumbai.
Talking about the September 30 Allahabad High Court verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit, Sonia Gandhi said it in “no way condones” the demolition of the disputed structure. The demolition was a “shameful, criminal act” and “all those responsible must be brought to justice”, she said.
Taking the attack a notch further, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee piloted an AICC statement that said “recent revelations through detailed investigations have exposed the true character of RSS and its sister organisations. The investigations indicate the involvement of its members in terrorist activities”.
‘Greater sensitivity to tribals’ concerns’
Sonia Gandhi wants the government to show “greater sensitivity” to the concerns of the tribals to solve the problem of the Left-wing extremism. “There must be greater sensitivity to the daily concerns of the tribals and other communities. Of course, these areas need to be developed but it is the nature of that development that is in question. People must have a say and they must have a stake. Destroying forests and their habitat through the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources does not necessarily bring them out of the abject poverty in which they are languishing,” she said.