Sharad Pawar would review the Congress partys current economic policies and shift it away from structural reform and globalisation if he were to be elected the Congress president. He has indicated this in a statement on programme and policy matters released yesterday.
It promises to appoint a high power committee to review present economic policy and identify our priority areas of self-reliance, defending the cause of working class, public sector, cooperative movement and anti-poverty programmes. Sanat Mehta, a leading Pawar associate, has prepared economic policy documents in recent months suggesting this sort of shift in the partys economic policies. This is the first time Pawar has publicly endorsed this return to socialist rhetoric as a way to reinvigorate the party. The first point in the policy paper is that conscious efforts should be made to see that partys uncompromising policy approach against economic exploitation, social exploitation, communalism and casteism is reflected at every level.
The promise to work against casteism could indicate that Pawar would not steer the Congress towards closer political cooperation with parties like the Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party, which have been accused by their opponents of encouraging casteism. Incumbent party chief Sitaram Kesri has a close rapport with both.
Pawar also promises to highlight the partys commitment to secularism. The policy paper says we must assemble at Ayodhya to denounce once again what had happened on 6.12.1992. He also promises a month-long padyatra called the party people partnership of secular India programme in every district from November 14, Nehrus birth anniversary.
Pawars paper gives yet another indication that he has moved closer to Sonia Gandhi. It promises in bold letters to organise a Gandhi to Gandhi exhibition to highlight sacrifices and contribution of Congress from Mahatma Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi 1948-1991). Ironically, Pawars relations with Rajiv Gandhi were antagonistic during the last couple of years of the latters life. In another document titled Congress revival programme, Pawar promises autonomy to state and district units to select candidates and to frontal organisations. Ad hoc committees and ad hoc appointments should be avoided, it says.
The document begins with a promise to build proper functional headquarters for district units and later in every block.
