REPORT

Vichar Vibhag Report

MUMBAI : The North Mumbai District Congress Committee Vichar Vibhag organised a meeting of intellectuals and Congress workers to remember and pay homage to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his 38th death anniversary on 27 May, 2002 at the Sardar Patel Hall, Malad (West), Mumbai.

The august gathering was presided over by Dr. B.P. Sinha, Chairman, Mumbai Regional Congress Committee Vichar Vibhag. The meeting was attended by eminent writers, advocates, professionals, social workers, party workers and senior leaders like Shri Chandra Kant Gosalia (vice president, MRCC), Shri P.U. Metha (MLA), chairman Petrochemicals Corporation, Smt. Dr. Rajam Natrajan, co-convenor MRCC Vichar Vibhag and party corporators, Shri K.P. Jain, the Convenor of North Mumbai District Congress Committee Vichar Vibhag, was the organiser of the event.

‘Divisive Politics Destroys Secular Fabric’

Congress President Sonia Gandhi at a meeting to pay homage to the martyrs of Quit India Movement at Party headquarters in Delhi

NEW DELHI : Without naming any party, the Congress president, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, on 9 August accused some forces of attempting to destroy the secular fabric of the country through divisive politics, and charged others with indulging in politics of convenience with the sole intention of staying in power.

Addressing a meeting organised at the AICC headquarters here on the 60th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, Smt. Gandhi also lamented the way the principles of equality and socialism — the cherished goals of the founding fathers of Independent India — were being elbowed out by narrow interests.

Having identified the ills plaguing society and polity, she sought to underline the need for every Indian to walk hand-in-hand to put the country back on the track to progress and development.

Recalling the "do-or-die" call given by Mahatma Gandhi on this day 60 years ago, she said: "The Congress faced several difficulties, but we never changed out path". Further, in her opinion, politics ought to follow "a definite ideology and principles".

Pointing to the cynicism that has set in among the youth and their taking to wrong ways because of the ‘poor leadership’ being provided to the country, she made out a strong case for politicians to improve their own behaviour. She took a dig at the current coalition arrangement at the Centre by calling it an "unholy alliance". According to her, the aim of politics should not only be to gain power, but to serve the nation. "On this occasion, when we remember our freedom fighters, we should consider where we are leading the nation and what we are leaving behind for the coming generations."

Also present were senior party leaders — Arjun Singh, Natwar Singh, Oscar Fernandes, Mohsina Kidwai and Moti Lal Vora — and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit besides a number of party workers.