Report

AICC Diary

CMs’ Conclave

02.06.2003 : Shri Anand Sharma and Shri Syed Sibte Razi briefed the press.

Shri Anand Sharma said that a significant political message emerged from the Chief Ministers’ Conclave at Srinagar. Keeping in mind the evolving political situation, the Congress Party’s strategy and the preparedness of the party for the forthcoming elections is receiving priority attention. The Congress President’s declaration and claim that the Congress Party shall win all five States, has been happily accepted as a challenge by the workers. Steps are being taken to intensify the organisational drive. Meetings are being held in Districts and Blocks all over the country, particularly in the five States that are going in for elections.

Shri Anand Sharma said that today the observers for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh along with the Chief Minister and PCC President met the General Secretary in-charge to discuss election strategy. The following observers have been appointed for Rajasthan – Smt. Santosh Chaudhary, Shri K. Sagaraika, Shri Ajay Yadav, Shri Harikesh Bahadur, Shri Chandan Bagchi, Shri S. S. Surjewala and Shri Virendra Kataria. For Madhya Pradesh, the observers are – Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal, Shri Pawan Bansal, Smt. Ushaben Thakkar and Shri Shamsher Singh Dullo.

PM’s Flip-Flop

04.06.2003 : Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press.

Shri Anand Sharma said that it has been our tradition not to make any comment on the Prime Minister’s statements while he is abroad. In Germany, the Prime Minister said that on Kashmir, India is ready for a serious compromise. Another statement of his was that this was the last round of talks with Pakistan and he would retire if the talks failed. None of the political parties have been told on what serious compromise India is ready.

The Prime Minister should have consulted opposition parties, built a consensus and then made such statements. The statements of the Prime Minister are also indicative of a well-known characteristic mindset of contradictory statements on major issues. By now, the famous flip-flops have become integral to the persona of the Prime Minister. It is impossible to know which statement of the Prime Minister is serious and which is not. This Government’s policy lacks clarity and consistency.

RLD Withdraws Support

Shri Anand Sharma said that of the parties that supported the BSP-BJP alliance, the RLD has withdrawn its support. One foundation-stone of the UP Government has fallen. It was expected of the Governor to act as the Government had been formed with the letter of support of the RLD.

The Mayawati Government has now resorted to intimidatory tactics to keep her Government afloat. Yesterday, from the Chief Minister’s office a statement of support was released by some MLAs who it is claimed held a meeting. Some of these MLAs are proclaimed offenders and one is in jail. One MLA, Madan Bhaiya is a proclaimed offender. Mukhtar Ansari is in Tihar Jail.

If such a meeting took place, why was the proclaimed offender not arrested? How did the MLA in Tihar Jail reach Lucknow or was the meeting held in Tihar Jail? The BJP cannot wash its hands off. There has been blatant and rampant misuse of official machinery.

Indian Troop Deployment

05.06.2003 : Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press.

Shri Anand Sharma said that there have been news reports of the Indian Army being sent to Iraq. It is a fundamental principle that is being violated. The principle being that in the past whenever the Indian Army has been deployed for peace-keeping operations internationally in Korea, Gaza, Congo or Somalia, it has always been under the command and control of the United Nations. That principle is not being adhered to. We are concerned and opposed to any deployment of our soldiers without express UN mandate. Keeping this in mind, the Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, has written to the Prime Minister asking the Government should make its stand clear. She has stated that in case the Army is sent other than the mandate of the United Nations, the Congress Party is opposed to it.

Jumbo Delegation

10.06.2003 : Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press.

Shri Anand Sharma said that Shri L K Advani who is on tour of the US and UK to strengthen our relation which certainly is not so easy a task, for that he requires the support of the whole nation. The delegation, which accompanied him on this tour, is very selective. And if you see the composition, it shows that they have gone with full preparation.

As it is happens to be very hot here, for that he has a full right to take his family along with him, for that we don’t have any objection. It is for sure that some officials will accompany him on his tour, like his private secretary Mr. Deepak Chopra who is accompanied by his wife, officer on special duty Mr. Ajay Prasad is also accompanied by his wife, Mr. Gopalswamy who is the home secretary of India is also accompanied by his wife, chief of intelligence bureau Mr. K P Singh is also accompanied by wife there are many more who have accompanied the Deputy Prime Minister. The delegation consists of 23 members.

Unrepentent Musharraf

16.06.2003 : Shri Jaipal Reddy and Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press.

Shri Jaipal Reddy said that in a recent television interview, General Musharraf commented that Kargil was not a mistake and it might be repeated. These remarks show that like French bourbons, General Musharraf neither learns nor forgets. He has not learnt any lesson either through Kargil or through 9/11 or through December 13. Mr. Musharraf should know that hundreds of Kargil will not weaken India’s will to protect the territorial integrity of our country. General Musharraf continues to be an unrepentant ruler.

On Ayodhya the Congress Party is for a negotiated settlement or wants the matter to be resolved through talks, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that the Congress Party believes that solution to the vexed problem of Ayodhya can be provided only through the judiciary. While we are not opposed to talks that may be held among various groups, we are of the considered view that the talks will yield very little result.

On sending Indian troops to Iraq there could be consensus on a scheme which did not have UN mandate, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that our leaders who met the Prime Minister made our position very clear. We suggested that the Government should talk to all political parties in the country, the Government should speak to neighbours of Iraq and that we need to know what exactly is the nature of the request. We have nothing more to say on that.

Shimla Conclave

18.06.2003 : Shri Jaipal Reddy and Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press.

Shri Jaipal Reddy said that the Simla Conclave of the Congress Party is to be held on 7th, 8th and 9th of July. As part of preparation, the Congress President has appointed sub-committees for preparation of the working papers. The Central Coordination Committee will look at the working drafts of the sub-committees, finalize them and then put them up for the Congress President’s consideration. After the working drafts are approved by the Congress President they will be presented before the camp.

When the camp meets it will start with the inaugural speech of the Congress President. After that the leaders will break themselves into the five committees, which will further scrutinise the drafts. They will then be presented to the camp towards the end and formally adopted.

Provocative Statements

20.06.2003 : Shri Anand Sharma and Shri Syed Sibte Razi briefed the press.

Shri Anand Sharma said that the statements of General Musharraf, not one but two of them, are unwarranted and provocative. The threat of using the nuclear arsenal as a deterrent was uncalled for when India had taken the initiative for resumption of dialogue and improvement of the sub-continental environment.

The Government of India needs to be cautious when dealing with General Musharraf and the military leadership in Pakistan, which has made repeated retractions and contradictions of their stated position on the issues of cross-border terrorism and the training camps in POK. General Musharraf’s assertion that there has been no activity on the LOC cannot hoodwink the international community.

On PM’s China Visit

25.06.2003 : Shri Jaipal Reddy and Shri Anand Sharma briefed the press.

Shri Jaipal Reddy said that the Congress Party has followed with attention and interest the visit of Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee to China. The visit is a continuation of the historic process started by the late Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi in 1988 and which was carried forward by Prime Minister, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao. We have welcomed the Prime Minister’s visit to China. We are now studying the text of the joint declaration issued in Beijing yesterday.

Controversial Corridor

Shri Jaipal Reddy said that it is not correct to think that the problem posed by the work started on the controversial corridor near Taj Mahal is over. Apart from the fact that Rs. 17 crores has been sunk and wasted, the bigger problem is that a threat has been posed to the safety of the Taj Mahal. Experts are also contending that damage has been caused to the environment in and around the Taj Mahal. Since the Chief Minister is herself guilty in the matter, we call upon the Government of India to intervene immediately and provide not only the resources but also the expertise to undo the damage caused to this great monument.

Discrimination

27.06.2003 : Shri Jaipal Reddy and Shri Abhishek Singhvi briefed the press.

Shri Jaipal Reddy said that we are obliged to take note of the brazenly partisan manner in which the Union Government has handled the visits of Chief Ministers to foreign countries. The media is aware that the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh was denied permission and that the Chief Minister of Rajasthan has applied for permission which is being inordinately delayed. This is nothing but a case of wanton abuse of federal power.

The other day, Mayawatiji was allowed to go abroad to visit Disneyland possibly to get new ideas on Taj heritage corridor. We also cannot ignore the fact that the Deputy Prime Minister also visited the UK and USA not only with an army of officials but quite a few of the officials went with their wives. This is an issue we cannot ignore, we will take it up in Parliament.

Fidayeen Attack

30.06.2003 : Shri Jaipal Reddy and Kumar Shelja briefed the press.

Shri Jaipal Reddy said that we express our profound sympathy with the army personnel who were killed in the fidayeen attack in Jammu. While doing so, we also express our deep concern on the repetition of these incidents. We note that the army camps though fortified and guarded could not be protected. The Government should do more to see that all the armed camps are provided with greater security like multi-entry points so that suicide attackers would not be able to penetrate the cordon in a surprising way.

Best Bakery Case

Shri Jaipal Reddy said that we are shocked to note that all the twenty-one accused in the Best Bakery Case have been acquitted. It was one of the most gruesome incidents that occurred in the violence that erupted in Gujarat. We believe that such an acquittal could not have taken place if the prosecution was really committed. We have reasons to believe that the prosecution was sabotaged as the witnesses were threatened. The Judge himself pointed out that the police did not do their duty properly and he therefore had no option but to acquit the accused.

Congress’ Stand

On the Congress Party’s stand on the joint declaration with China, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that we have studied the Prime Minister’s visit to China and the joint declaration in detail. We would like to recall that the process of normalization of ties was started way back in 1988 and the process was continued by the Narasimha Rao regime in 1993 and 1996. After studying the joint declaration, we think that what has been agreed to on Tibet and Sikkim is broadly acceptable to our party.

- Tom Vadakkan
Media Secretary