Letter to Congress Workers

Dear friends,

I have been holding discussions with like-minded parties to forge an alliance to challenge the BJP-dominated NDA in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. I am happy to say that the discussions held so far have been satisfactory. There is a strong desire on the part of many opposition parties to strive to check the decline in the socio-political climate in the country caused by the divisive politics and fundamentalist policies of the BJP.

I have taken the initiative to open dialogue with parties which share our approach and policies mainly because I believe that as the biggest and oldest national party that brought independence and played a vital role in stabilizing democracy and in charting the path for economic development in India, the Congress party has a special responsibility.

It is not a question of winning power, but a question of discharging one's own duty towards the people. We will not rest in our efforts till we re-establish the tenets of universal brotherhood and equality as the core principles that determine our socio-political ethos.

It is this mission that must fire our energies. We must not allow the recent set-back in the Assembly elections to demoralize us. As a 118-year old party we have seen innumerable ups and downs, victories and defeats. We must move ahead.

Early this month we had held a meeting of the Working Committee where all the relevant issues and questions were discussed in detail. The meeting adopted a ten-point programme as a part of our strategy for the coming Lok Sabha elections. This programme strengthens the party machinery. We have to remain alert and use all available communication channels to expose the tall and false claims being made by the BJP. We have a massive party network. Hundreds and thousands of our committed party workers like you can carry the party message to the masses.

The BJP has been touting what they call the "feel good factor". But the question to be asked is, who is "feeling good"? The majority of our people are not. Farmers are in distress, committing suicide. Shortage of power, water and credit continue to worry the rural people. Women, who bear the brunt of any mismanaged economy, face deprivation. Most important of all, the curse of unemployment and lack of job opportunities is raging like never before, affecting particularly the youth in rural and urban areas alike. Is this a "feel good" scene? This surely is not the India of our dreams.

We want an India that cares for the largest section of its population _ the poor, the under-privileged and the downtrodden _ irrespective of their caste, creed or religion. Our policies are directed to benefit everyone, not just a few. For us religion is a private affair, not a political ploy. This is how we in our party look at India and the future. And we are striving to bring together all those parties that share this dream. I expect all of you to keep this in mind and work for the cause that concerns all of us as well as future generations.