Speech

Duty to Nation Beckons Us : Sonia Gandhi
Congress President’s Opening Address at the Convention of BCC and DCC Presidents, on March 28th

Iraq : At the very outset I wish to say a few words on the present day situation 25851675caused by the attack on Iraq which is against all international laws and has broken all international conventions. The United Nations has been completely marginalized. This must be firmly condemned. We want this issue to revert back to the United Nations and that a just and honourable solution acceptable to all parties emerge. The Indian National Congress is with all those innocent men, women and children in Iraq who for no fault of theirs are the worst sufferers of this catastrophe. If an amicable solution to this issue is not found soon, it would mean a defeat for humanity and it would have grave implications for the rest of the world as well.

Welcome to this convention of Block Congress Committee presidents and District Congress Committee presidents. I believe that this is perhaps the first time a national assembly of Block Congress Committee presidents is taking place.

Over the past few weeks state-level conventions of BCC and DCC presidents have been held in most states. In these meetings, all of you would have had an opportunity of raising organisational and party-related issues. I have been impressing upon the AICC General Secretaries the need to follow-up actively on the many points that you have raised at the state-level conventions.

Foot-Soldiers : Today, as we meet here, we collectively recall and resolve to effectively confront the numerous challenges that the Congress faces. We have to remind the people of our country at times about the uniqueness of the Congress, about the continued relevance of our philosophy and ideology. We have to highlight and project our achievements and contributions. We have to effectively counter the malicious and mischievous propaganda that keeps getting spread against the Congress from time to time. We have to mobilize the people of our country against the destructive and dangerous policies of the BJP.

You — the BCC and DCC presidents — represent the leadership of the Congress in villages, towns and cities.

You represent the lakhs of workers of our great party, the lakhs of workers who are our foot-soldiers, the infantry of the Congress brigade that carries the Congress message to the people of our country. We have called this convention so that you are fully informed about the Congress’s position and stance on various national political, social and economic issues.

We have organized this convention so that you are fully equipped, fully armed, fully prepared to propagate the Congress point of view and to expose the BJP slanderous propaganda about us and its miserable failures where it is in power.

Secularism :

India is a multi-religious country. All of the world’s great religions are practiced here. That is why India is a secular country. For us the meaning of secularism is Sarva Dharma Sambhav. Ours is a country where every faith and every religion has been respected and given every opportunity to flourish.

For the Congress, secularism has always been a battle against communalism and fanaticism of all kinds. We will firmly combat the misuse of any religion for purposes of polarizing our society. But there is something more important to our vision of secularism. I believe that the Hindu Dharm is very liberal and pluralistic. Whatever the BJP, RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal preach and propagate has nothing whatsoever to do with the Hindu way of life. We in the Congress vehemently reject the political misuse of religion.

Diversity has defined India and it is this diversity that has given India a distinct identity in today’s world. The Congress believes in the implementation of the nation’s Constitution in letter and spirit. The Constitution gives equal rights to all citizens, including minorities. We are not doing anybody a favour by implementing these fundamental rights but are simply carrying out our sacred commitment.

Ayodhya :

In this context, it is important for me to reiterate our position on the Ayodhya issue. We have always believed that nothing should be done to disturb the status quo in Ayodhya and that all of us should await the judicial verdict. As a party committed to the rule of law, we will respect whatever verdict is given.

Nothing is more paramount than national security. The Congress has never compromised on this issue. We have fought against all forms of terrorism. A party that has lost three of its top leaders — Gandhiji, Indiraji and Rajivji — to religious fundamentalism and terrorism needs no certificate from anybody on its credentials to fight the menace of terrorism. A party that has successfully combated militancy and terrorism in many states of the country like Punjab, Assam, Mizoram and Jammu and Kashmir and brought these states back into the mainstream of political democracy needs no certificate about its patriotic credentials.

Terrorism :

How can the country ever forget that it was a BJP Foreign Minister who personally escorted three hard-core terrorists to safety in a special flight to Afghanistan. These very terrorists are now in Pakistan and are masterminding dastardly attacks on innocent men, women and children in Jammu and Kashmir. Just four days back, 11 families of Kashmiri Pandits were brutally massacred near Pulwama. I had been there. Nothing I say can assuage the pain, agony and anger of the entire country.

Was it not in a BJP regime that the ghastly and reprehensible tragedy took place in Godhra? Was it not in a BJP regime that the communal carnage took place in Gujarat? Was it not during a BJP regime that the attack on Akshardham and on the Raghunath Temple took place?

Friends, how can the country ever forget that it was during a BJP regime that the families of our valiant defence forces were massacred in Kaluchak, how can the country ever forget that it was during a BJP regime that the very citadel of Indian democracy, Parliament itself, was attacked.

National Security :

National security is the prime responsibility of the Central Government. The BJP-led NDA government has failed in the discharge of this duty. We have extended broad support to the Central Government for any steps it decides to take to deal with cross-boarder terrorism but the Central Government has dissipated this support. Between December 2001 and September 2002, the country mobilized over 5 lakh troops on our western borders. But in the absence of a clear-cut policy and political will on the part of the BJP-led NDA government, all this made no difference to Pakistan’s actions. Contrary to whatever the BJP-led NDA government claims the reality is that (i) cross-border terrorism continues; (ii) Pakistan has failed to fulfill General Musharaff’s promises made on January 12, 2002; (iii) Pakistan’s policy on Jammu and Kashmir has not changed at all; (iv) our communications with Pakistan are taking place more and more through other countries; and (v) the US continues to treat Pakistan as a stalwart ally and has even lifted sanctions against it.

All of us are united, the entire country is united to defeat the nefarious designs of all terrorist organisations and their sponsors. At the time, we will fight all those who are bent on polarizing our society on communal lines since this will diminish our effectiveness against the enemy. Under the BJP-led NDA government, the greatest damage has been done to social harmony. The communal divide has sharpened.

Economy :

Under the BJP-led NDA government, economic growth has slowed down appreciably, leading to an increase in unemployment. Under the BJP-led NDA government, our kisans are the ones who have suffered the most. There isn’t a single section of the farming community throughout the country — from the north to the south, from the west to the east — which is not facing acute distress. The worsening position of crores of kisans and khet mazdoors has led to an unprecedented number of suicides. But this has failed to move this government. At such a time, how can we remain a silent spectator?

Under the BJP-led NDA government, the public sector which has developed backward regions of the country and provided lakhs of employment opportunities to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes is being recklessly privatized. Profit-making companies are being sold off at very cheap prices in a most non-transparent manner. And all this is taking place when unemployment is increasing alarmingly, when there is a severe investment famine in industry.

The BJP promised to eliminate Bhay, Bhook and Brashtachar. What have the people of the country got from BJP-led NDA government? Insecurity of the people has increased inspite of the broad political support that the government has received from us to combat anti-national activities forcefully. Naxalite violence is growing. Crime grows unchecked.

Food-Stocks :

You might be knowing that the country has record stocks of foodgrains. If these stocks were laid out end-to-end, it would be equal to travelling from the earth to the moon. How have these foodgrain stocks materialized? They are the outcome of the dedicated efforts of lakhs of kisans all over the country from whom the foodgrains have been procured, kisans who are now being rewarded by the BJP with increased urea prices and no relief from the burden of debt. What is most depressing and tragic, is that inspite of possessing such an abundance, malnutrition and undernourishment continues to stalk the land. We have been pleading with the Central Government to use these foodgrain stocks to create rural employment on a massive scale and use them to alleviate the sufferings of the really vulnerable and destitute sections of our society. But our persistent pleas have been ignored. Can there be a more telling example of BJP’s callousness and neglect of the poor than this?

What have the people of the country got from the BJP-led NDA government? A corrupt administration, an administration that has seen a number of scams. Scams that have deprived lakhs of our countrymen and women of their hard-earned savings and deposits. Scams have taken place even in the purchase of coffins for our brave jawans and defence forces who laid down their lives for the country at Kargil.

Nation’s Agenda :

The Congress has always set the nation’s agenda. We must and will continue to do so. Our agenda is to provide the youth of our country a renewed vision of a job-secure future, a future in which their aspirations are realised in substantial measure. The most important challenge facing our country is how to provide productive employment to our youth. Youth has energy, enthusiasm and idealism. This has to be channelised into constructive nation-building activities. Schools, colleges and universities have to be thoroughly modernised and vocational training institutions expanded. Banks have to finance self-employment on a larger-scale.

Our agenda is to offer the kisans and khet mazdoors — on whom the prosperity of our country rests — a renewed charter to transform their lives and make their families prosperous. Their burden of debt must end and more credit must be made available at cheaper rates of interest. Farmers must get full marketing assistance, they must receive remunerative prices for their produce and there must be adequate protection afforded to them against crop failures. The extension of irrigation facilities must be accelerated.

Our agenda is to give to the women of our country a renewed hope of political representation, social emancipation and legal equality. There must be one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and in Vidhan Sabhas. Women must enjoy equal share in all property and inheritance rights. The flow of credit for self-help groups of working women must increase substantially.

Our agenda is to give to the weaker sections of our society — most particularly the dalits, adivasis, OBCs and minorities — a new sense of commitment to their social welfare and economic well-being. Education — school and college — is the very basis for empowering the weaker sections of our society. Full protection must be given to enhance the dignity of their lives and the security of their property. They must be represented adequately in all institutions of governance.

Congress Record :

These priorities are basic to our philosophy. Tomorrow, you will hear in detail about this agenda, about the Congress’s plans, programmes, policies and priorities for kisans and khet mazdoors, for youth, for the weaker sections of society and for women. This will be implemented whenever the people will once again place their confidence and trust in the Congress at the Centre. That day, if we work hard, if we are disciplined and if we immerse ourselves totally in the day-to-day concerns of the people of our country, will undoubtedly materialise soon.

Whatever the Congress promises, it implements when it is in power. Today, fifteen chief ministers belong to the Congress. It is universally recognized that Congress-ruled states have set new standards for good governance and effective administration. Of course, much more needs to be done and that is why I meet with Congress Chief Ministers as a group regularly. In Guwahati last April, we prepared a detailed plan of action. I want the Guwahati Resolve to be implemented in full.

Congress-ruled states have an impressive record in governance, in promoting economic growth, in promoting social welfare schemes, in implementing rural development programmes. Let me give you a few examples. Each of our states has been a pioneer in key areas of daily concern to the people.

Maharashtra has been running a highly-successful employment guarantee scheme. This has created rural infrastructure and given a great boost to horticulture. In Karnataka, every scheduled caste and scheduled tribe family will have a house in the name of the women by 2005. Madhya Pradesh’s education guarantee scheme and Rajasthan’s achievements in female literacy are being universally acclaimed. Chhattisgarh has launched the country’s largest programme for training tribal girls in computers. Massive watershed development programmes are under implementation in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh and afforestation campaigns have been launched in Chhattisgarh. Punjab’s agriculture is being diversified. In Uttaranchal new efforts have been mounted to develop agro-processing, hydel resources and tourism and this will be priorities for the new government in Himachal Pradesh as well. Assam has started an ambitious programme to make government available at the doorsteps of the people so that both individual and community needs are fulfilled. Similarly, Delhi has seen major upgradation of its infrastructure befitting the nation’s capital. Social activists are empowering villagers through the Freedom of Information Act in Rajasthan. Today, up-to-date land records are available readily to all landowners in villages in a number of states like Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. There is a completely changed, growth-oriented investment climate in Kerala. In Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh our governments have initiated a number of development measures to create jobs for the youth and for improving connectivity and accessibility. Pondicherry has an innovative nutritional programme for increasing school attendance particularly for girls belonging to the weaker sections of society.

Good Governance :

In our view, good governance has certain basics. Maintenance of law and order is good governance. Providing a sensitive and humane bureaucracy and police that does not harass and humiliate ordinary citizens is good governance. Implementing programmes effectively for the weaker sections of society, for the unorganized sector of the economy is good governance. Enforcing social legislation for the welfare of women and children particularly is good governance. And running an open, accountable and responsive administration based on efficiency and honesty is good governance.

Governments derive their inspiration from the ideology of political parties. Political parties form governments. Governments do not dictate the agenda of political parties. We must always honour this fundamental democratic reality. BCC and DCC presidents have a special responsibility. Our state governments particularly must keep this in mind. If the party organisation does not highlight and project our programmes for the people and our achievements, who will? That is why there must always be close coordination between the party and the governments. It is the party organisation that provides the bridge between the people and the governments. In the same way, all party functionaries and all prominent Congressmen and women must bear in mind that a government exists for all and not for a few. We must honestly ask ourselves what is it that we give to the Congress and not how much can we extract from the Congress.

The Congress has been part and parcel of our lives for 118 years. We must always be mindful of this legacy. Ultimately, there must be something special in the Congress and its ideology, there must be something special in its leaders like Panditji, Indiraji and Rajivji that inspite of the relentless efforts of our political adversaries, the Congress is still the country’s pre-eminent political party.

Congress Mirrors India :

The Congress is the only party that mirrors India in all its diversities. The Congress represents and reflects, like no other party does, the plurality of India in all its majesty.

It is the only All-India party that appeals to, has a place for and draws its support from each and every section of our society, from all Indians, irrespective of caste, religion, language or region. Verily, if there is a political party that belongs to every Indian, it is the Indian National Congress.

The Congress is the only party that has the experience to maintain a harmonious balance among a strong Centre, strong states and strong panchayats and nagarpalikas. You all know that it was entirely due to Rajiv Gandhi’s total dedication and effort that the Constitution was finally amended in 1993 under a Congress regime to strengthen local self-government institutions and it was entirely due to him that one-third of all those elected to panchayats and nagarpalikas have necessarily to be women. It was entirely due to his untiring efforts that dalits and adivasis are fully represented in panchayats and nagarpalikas. Panchayats are the foundation of our democracy. But our democracy will be an effective instrument of governance and our political unity will be ensured only if there is a resolute and, purposeful government at the Centre that has a clear vision of the future.

Our Mantra :

The mantra of the Congress party is development and economic growth. Other parties bring politics into development. We bring development into politics. Our entire political ideology revolves around vikaas. What is more, we are the only party with the firm belief that economic development must take place in an all-inclusive social framework.

The Congress has provided governments that united India. The BJP has provided a government that is dividing India. The Congress has provided governments that promoted the values and legacy that have defined and sustained our culture and civilization for over 5000 years. The BJP has provided a government that is destroying our ancient and precious heritage. Even the memory of the Father of the Nation has been desecrated.

Friends, we live in testing times but the next few months are going to be particularly demanding. All of us will be called upon to strive extraordinarily hard to keep the Congress flag flying high. All of us will be called upon to subjugate our personal egos for the greater good of the party to which we should consider ourselves privileged to belong. All of us will be called upon to function cohesively as a team in an enthusiastic spirit of collective endeavour.

I fervently believe that our nation needs the Congress more than ever before. It is upto us to fulfill these aspirations of our people, to prove worthy of their expectations and of their continued trust and confidence. I believe it is now time for each one of us to take a pledge — Think of the Country, Act for the Party. Let us resolve today to make every possible sacrifice so that all Indians, all our brothers and sisters can truly live with dignity and pride. - Jai Hind.