Text of the Smt. Sonia Gandhi's address at the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting in New Delhi on December 19, 2002

Colleagues:

This has been a short but productive session.

A number of long-pending Bills have been passed. Though some of them still have several drawbacks, we have supported them in the larger national interest and in keeping with our pledge to fulfill the role of a constructive opposition. We must continue to press for removing the various lacunae in these Bills. All CPP members must familiarise themselves with the objections that we had raised and the amendments that we had suggested so that they can press for further necessary changes. In the Freedom of Information Bill, for instance, a vast array of information has been made exempt from disclosure. Information relating to "strategic, scientific or economic interests of India", "conduct of international relations", "conduct of centre-state relations", "investigation and detection of an offence", "invasion of privacy", etc. have all been kept outside the purview of the Bill. Consequently Government can block whatever information it finds inconvenient. On the whole the Bill has too many arbitrary caveats.

We have adhered to our principles and commitment to the people in supporting the Supreme Court requirement for disclosure of information by candidates. We are the only Party that has proved itself to probity, integrity and transparency in politics. It is now clear that the Government’s true intention all along was to block and dilute the Supreme Court’s directives in the name of a artificial consensus on the People’s Representation Amendment Bill.

The Congress Party had clearly articulated its stand in the all-Party meeting convened by the Union Law Minister on 2nd August, 2002 as well as in a subsequent letter dated 8th August, 2002 written by Shri Pranab Mukherjee to the Law Minister. Even then the Government continued to issue deliberately misleading statements that the Congress Party and other Parties in the Opposition supported the government. I myself issued a press statement on 27th August, 2002 once again making our position clear. Despite this, the government promulgated an Ordinance that completely diffuses the responsibility of the candidate to disclose relevant information at the time of filing nomination. The Bill that they tabled and pushed through on the basis of numerical majority defeats the objective of respecting the right of the voter to know the antecedents of their candidates. This is one more example of the false pretensions of the BJP and its allies. This has shown that they pay only lip service to the tenets of transparency and accountability in politics.

There have been some important debates and discussions on issues like drought, internal security, acute distress of the farmers and disinvestment. We have made our position clear on these issues. Satisfactory responses were seldom forthcoming from the government. We shall continue to articulate our concerns and highlight them at every opportunity. Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced a further set of measures for drought relief in different states. Instead of such peace meal announcements it would have been better if the government implemented a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package. In several issues like the JPC report on the UTI scam and the Tehelka issue, we have been able to expose the incompetence and deliberate machinations of this government.

It is regrettable that several important matters could not be taken up by us during this short session. These include a discussion on the feasibility of the Tenth Five Year Plan, an assessment of this Government’s performance in the Ninth Five Year Plan and the refusal of the government to institute a high-level inquiry into the petrol pump allocations. We hope that the Government will agree to allow discussion on these issues in the next session. In the meantime our duty is to continue to raise these before the people.

The last few weeks had been taken up by the Assembly elections in Gujarat. We respect the verdict of the people. Of course, we are disappointed by the results but there is no room for despondency. Electoral ups and downs are inevitable. The results reveal the nature and magnitude of the challenge that awaits us as we regroup and revitalize ourselves. We have begun analyzing the reasons for our poor performance, even though we registered a 38% vote share. We must and we will identify, acknowledge and rectify our shortcomings, both real and perceived. For the moment, however, the electorate of Gujarat has spoken. We respect their opportunity to prepare ourselves for bigger battles that lie ahead of us. Let none of us forget that the Congress is the only truly national party in the country. We must concentrate single-mindedly on the tasks ahead and press on, steadfast in our commitment to secularism, anchored in our vision of economic growth with social harmony and dedicated to combating communalism and bigotry of every kind.

Nevertheless, I must share with you some deep concerns. Democracy is undoubtedly about liberties and freedoms. But it cannot be sustained in the absence of self-imposed restraints and self-control. During the Gujarat election campaign, we confronted and battled figures and forces who respected no rules of language or action, who observed no limits in word or deed, who showed no qualms in preaching virulent hatred and spreading poison. It is no use saying that in a campaign we should expect theatricals and exaggerations. It is no use saying that after the heat of a campaign, passions will cool and the irresponsible will rediscover a sense of sobriety. In my view, a campaign sets the agenda, it sets the terms of political discourse. Grave damage has been done to our polity and to our society by the deliberately mischievous and malicious way in which the VHP and the BJP conducted the election campaign in Gujarat. We will confront and combat them uncompromisingly with all our strength.

However, as I said earlier, we must look to the future. We must participate actively in the process of reconstruction and reconciliation in Gujarat. We must hold the state government there accountable to its promise of ensuring the welfare and well-being of each and every citizen of Gujarat, irrespective of religion. Our own governments in other states have to become extraordinarily vigilant to ensure that the communal virus is not injected and propagated.

In the next two-three months, four states will go to the polls and five more will face elections some months thereafter. In the states where we are in office, it will be a combination of good governance, effective communications, quick responses to local crisis and skillful political management that will enable us to defeat the so-called anti-incumbency factor. But we can take nothing for granted till the last vote is cast. Each and every one of us must make a contribution to the Party’s success. There is simply no substitute for determined and persistent effort. Unity is paramount if we are to succeed in the battles that lies ahead of us.

While congratulating ourselves on the legislation passed over the past month, I should also point out this session has been marked by exceptionally poor attendance in both Houses. The quorum bell had to be rung several times, more than normal. The primary responsibility of ensuring quorum at all times is that of the government but we have a duty in this regard. It is true that the elections in Gujarat were party responsible for the absence of many members but I do hope that future sessions will see vastly improved attendance and participation.

We must in future ensure proper attendance and more vigorous participation in debates in both Houses. There is scope for our members to participate with greater vigour and in larger numbers on the broader issues of national importance. All of us need to do more research and reading, all of us need to develop a deeper understanding on these issues, at least in the subjects with which we are associated through our Standing Committees. Only then will be we able to explain our stand to our workers and to our constituents. Only then will our interventions have greater impact in Parliament, thereby drawing the government’s attention with greater force and influencing its decision-making.

In the Inter-Session period we must devote all our energies to reach out to the people, particularly the disadvantaged. We have to commit ourselves to work at the grassroots, in the villages and in the towns. We have to overcome internal factionalism and strengthen the party as a whole.

Let me wish you all the best for the New Year. I am confident that with the goodwill of the people of this country, we will overcome all obstacles and succeed in our endeavours.

Thank You,