Letter to Congress Workers

Dear Friends,

We have just held a meeting of the AICC in New Delhi where fruitful discussions were held on wide-ranging matters concerning the nation and the party. We passed three resolutions on the prevailing political and economic situation and on current foreign policy issues. The most concrete outcome of the Session was the launching of the `Sadbhavna Ke Sipahi' movement under the leadership of our respected colleague Shri Sunil Dutt to spread the message of social amity and to act as a force for social harmony. I expect each and every Congressman and woman to participate actively in this combat against communal and other forces who are out to divide our society and deny its foundations of diversity. We have to fight against those who seek to reinvent, rewrite and reinterpret our past in a blatantly partisan and mischievous manner so as to deliberately sow the seeds of discord amongst our people.

The AICC Session took place against the disturbing background of the continuing tensions with Pakistan and the pressure being brought to bear on us by many countries of the world. I have been repeatedly saying that we support the government broadly in its efforts to stamp out cross-border terrorism and to restore peace and tranquility in Jammu and Kashmir. But we have also been consistently advocating formal and informal dialogue with Pakistan and have been calling for a mutual confidence-building agreement to eliminate the risk of nuclear and missile conflict in our region. We have also taken the position that as a political party we must be vigilant against the misuse of our continued stand-off with Pakistan and of Pakistan's support to militant groups to spread terror in Jammu and Kashmir by the Sangh Parivar to polarize and create communal tensions within our own society. The Congress is very well aware of its larger national obligations and has never played politics when the country's interests are involved. I have reiterated this both in Parliament and outside. We will work with the Government where it is necessary but we will continue to highlight our concerns and criticism about the BJP-led government's policies in a constructive manner.

Both in my introductory and concluding remarks at the Session, I stressed the need for all of us to practice austerity and shun ostentation of any kind. I set great store by this and we are circulating a code of austerity and ethics both for our workers and for the governments which we run in different states. Some of our colleagues echoed this sentiment in their interventions during the AICC Session.

I would like to thank the members of the AICC and the workers from all parts of the country for making the Session lively and purposeful. I would urge all of you to read the resolutions carefully since they reflect our party's stand on issues that are pre-occupying the country these days. The message of these resolutions has to be disseminated and propagated widely by each and every one of you