Speech

United We Stand : Sonia Gandhi

We started the Budget session in the background of the imminent attack on Iraq. We all watched the tragic and complete destruction of that country. Given the long-standing cultural and economic relationship our two countries have had for so many centuries, India can and must assist in the reconstruction of Iraq, in the reconstruction not only of its physical infrastructure but also of its institutions of political governance and of civil society.

For the first time in recent years, Parliament had a discussion on the demands for grants for two crucial ministries — external affairs and labour. The guillotine was not applied and for this the Congress can legitimately take the credit. The discussion on the Demand for Grant relating to the Labour Ministry exposed the comprehensive failure of this Government in the vital area of employment generation. The reality is the BJP-led NDA government’s tenure the average growth rate of employment generation has dropped to only 1.07 percent from 2.7 percent per annum in the early part of the 1990s.

The Budget once again revealed the true priorities of this government. It completely neglected the interests and needs of agriculture and the rural sector. We had the extraordinary spectacle of the Union Agriculture Minister himself going on record as saying his government is simply not concerned about the welfare of kisans and of rural India. Sugarcane growers in UP continue to face a serious crisis. Edible oil imports continue to mount destroying the livelihoods of lakhs of small and marginal farmers in dryland areas. VAT is a complex issue but the manner in which the Central government has shrugged off its responsibility is disturbing. It has tried to shift the blame to states, whereas the truth is that the Centre has had no clear strategy and roadmap. Neither has it been able to provide the necessary political leadership and direction. We have serious concerns at some of the Bills that engaged our attention in this session.

• The Government deferred the Women’s Reservation Bill once again on the excuse of seeking "Consensus" when it had the written support of the Congress party as well as the CPM. Even in the Speaker’s meeting the CPP members strongly urged that the Bill should be taken on 6th May itself, but were ignored.

• The Tobacco Prohibition Bill was also pushed through despite protests from CPP members that the interests of the 30-35 lakh tobacco growers, bidi workers and tendu leaf pickers must first be protected adequately. I had myself written to the PM more than a year ago to formulate programmes for alternative crops and alternative uses of tobacco. But no steps have been taken so far to protect the interests of these farmers.

• The Electricity Reforms Bill was supported by us because of our deep commitment to reforms in the vitally important power sector. But we have relied on the assurances given by the Power Minister on the floor of the House that some critical amendments suggested by our CMs, who have themselves implemented progressive power sector reforms in their states, will be brought in during the next session.

The Government has announced that they are planning to introduce legislation to protect the interests of unorganized-sector workers. I would like to say that many Congress state governments have already initiated action in this direction. Karnataka, for instance, has already tabled a progressive piece of legislation relating to them. I have asked all our CMs to draft such laws incorporating the best recommendations of the 2nd National Labour Commission Report.

The recent report of the Standing Committee on Defence reveals a shocking fact: a staggering amount of more than Rs. 23,000 crores has remained unutilised in the Defence Ministry between 2000-2001 and 2002-2003. Urgently needed modernisation of our armed forces has suffered badly. The Centre levied a 5% surcharge on taxpayers for national security in 2002-2003 and collected Rs. 4253 crore. But substantial amount was not spent on national security and it was treated as part of "general revenues". In the current year, the surcharge is expected to yield about Rs. 2800 crore and it must be ensured that this year at least, the money will be spent for the designated purposes.

The recent scandal in DDA is shocking. It is yet another addition to the long list of scams that have come to characterise this administration. We have also come across a case where prime defence land, valued at more than Rs. 50,000 a square yard in village Naraina has been given over to encroachers led by a high political functionary of this government ignoring clear orders of the Delhi High Court. Nothing has been done on the petrol pump allotment scam. Nothing has been done to take action against those shown up as corrupt in the Tehelka tape episode. On the contrary, the brave journalists who expose corruption in high places are being harassed. Nothing has been done to bring the guilty in the UTI scam to book. There have been many questionable and dubious decisions in telecom and disinvestment as well.

It distresses me a great deal to draw your attention to the increasing atrocities on dalits, particularly in Haryana. The horrendous incident at Jajjhar was followed by other recent atrocities at Dulina village and at Harsola village in Kaithal district. It falls on the Congress Party with its long standing commitment to the SC/ST community to raise these matters strongly and ensure that justice is done. We must all be vigilant on this score.

We held a very successful Convention of Block Congress Presidents that was held in New Delhi on March 28th and 29th. This rally involving over 8000 block pramukhs, was held for the very first time and it has infused new energy into our organisation at the grassroots and has projected our ideology : Congress ka Haath, Garib ke Saath. This has always been our philosophy but it needs to be reaffirmed, reinforced and renewed from time to time. We have to be irrevocably committed to it and also seen to be immersed in it completely, both in terms of substance and style. An action plan has been prepared and distributed to all the block Congress presidents. The enthusiasm, energy and exuberance that was on display filled me with hope and confidence. We must sustain the momentum that was generated at the adhiveshan and at the Desh Bachao Rally that was held on March 30th where we exposed the comprehensive failures and misdeeds of the BJP-led NDA government.

When we met last on February 15th, elections to four state assemblies were just about to be held. Since then, the people of Himachal Pradesh have once again reposed their faith in us overwhelmingly, rejected the desperate efforts of the BJP, including of the Prime Minister, to communalise the campaign. We have also formed a coalition government in Meghalaya bringing the total number of Congress chief ministers to 15. We will be holding the next meeting of the Congress Chief Ministers Council shortly to continue the interactions on issues of administrative governance, economic development and social welfare.

In less than six month’s time, elections to five state assemblies will be held. We are in power in four of these states and therefore will have to combat the so-called anti-incumbency syndrome. Our governments have solid achievements to their credit that have to be projected and propagated by all of us. I need hardly add that party unity, particularly among leaders, will be critical to our success. Succeed we must and, with the support of the people and with our collective commitment, succeed we will. Ultimately, it is the people of India who will give a befitting reply to those who want to divert attention away from basic issues of governance and development and those who preach bigotry and hate. The rule of law must apply without fear or favour to all those who disturb social peace and harmony by their words and deeds.

The entire country will have its fingers crossed over the next three-four weeks, praying that the monsoon is normal not just in the aggregate but more importantly both in its regional distribution and distribution over time. Some reports have already appeared suggesting that this could be another year of stress. While hoping for the best, we have experience and work with the states to put in place systems to alleviate the hardships that could be faced by both people and livestock.

The next Session will begin in July. We have a busy agenda in the weeks ahead. I am sure you all will be preoccupied with the development work in your respective constituencies.

(Valedictory address of the CP at the CPP General Body Meeting, on 8 May)