Revival of Cong important for India, democracy: Natwar

Former Union Minister Natwar Singh, who has kicked up a storm with his book and comments about Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, today said revival of Congress party was important for India and democracy.
Congress has to do some very serious thinking and introspection because if the party's slide continues, democracy is going to be in serious trouble, he said.
At a function to formally launch his book "One Life Is Not Enough", he took pot shots at Sonia Gandhi saying, "Sonia Gandhi learnt everything from Indira Gandhi. From A-Z....Few people have been as close to her as I have, her knowledge of Indian history, Indian culture, religion is negligible".

He was replying to observations, made during the launch, about Indira Gandhi and the present Congress President.
He said that even after the Emergency, the party led by Indira Gandhi got 150 seats in the Lok Sabha but under Sonia, the Congress got 44.
"At the same time, it is also said that if Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are not there, the number would come down from 44 to 4. Because where is the successor?"

Singh said that without the Gandhis, the party will break up between four-five people.
"So there is no unanmity... So they (Sonia and Rahul) are indispensable to Congress party," he said.

Singh said the upcoming assembly polls in some states will decide whether Congress party will revive or not.
"A strong Congress party is indispensable for India and for Indian democracy. It is absolutely indispensable. There must be a strong Congress party for democracy in India to function. It should be a strong opposition," he said.