CPP

UPA - A year of Fulfilment
Sonia Gandhi Calls for Vigilance

Following is the Valedictory Address of Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi to CPP General Body Meeting at Parliament House on 11^th May, 2005

Honourable Prime Minister,

Pranabji,

Newly elected office-bearers of the CPP,

Fellow MPs,

South African Honour for Pandit Nehru DURBAN (South Africa): The highest South African honour for foreign nationals was conferred on Jawaharlal Nehru in recognition of his struggle against colonialism and racism here on 26th April. The South African President, Thabo Mbeki, presented the award _ the Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo _ to Shri Rahul Gandhi, MP.

We have come to the end of a long and busy session. A number of important Bills, would have been debated and passed, by day after tomorrow. I have no doubt that the most important and significant among them, is the new Right to Information Bill. The passing of the Bill demonstrates our commitment to transparency in administration, at all levels. This historic legislation, will provide people with a powerful tool, to demand accountability from Central and state governments as well as from panchayats.

A number of Bills like those relating to the creation of a National Disaster Management Authority, the granting of Central University status to Manipur University, etc., have been introduced. Standing Committee reports on Bills, like the ones concerning amendments to the Hindu Succession Act, to ensure greater gender equality and a Reservation Act to codify existing executive orders, relating to reservations for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes are to be received later today. Unfortunately because of the BJP boycott, the Standing Committee's report on the historic Rural Employment Guarantee Act, a key pledge of our Common Minimum Programme, has not been received. Had it been, we would have passed the Act.

Pranabji tells that this session has seen the introduction and passing of the maximum number of Bills in recent times. A detailed booklet on this is being prepared and should be with all of you before we disperse day after tomorrow.

Our legislative accomplishments, would undoubtedly have been more satisfying had the NDA been present. As you all know the Prime Minister went out of his way to talk to the NDA leadership individually to persuade them to end their self-imposed boycott.

But for whatever reason, they chose to stay away. They kept inventing one excuse after the other to justify their boycott. Worse, they tried to justify their actions by spreading canards against the Prime Minister himself, and that too in an extremely crude and offensive language. Not even our most bitter critic can accuse our Prime Minister of being arrogant, subjective or inconsiderate. Yet, this is what the BJP has done. All of you must explain to your constituents how parliamentary democracy has been subverted so blatantly by those who often talked of `Mariada'.

The BJP, with its tactics, is attempting to take the focus away from its internal dissensions and its total disarray to issues that have no consistent or substantive content. Else, why would they have not accepted the offer of the Prime Minister to discuss any of the issues agitating them?

While in the Opposition, we also agitated. But what did we protest about?

1) Tehelka, 2) Gujarat, 3) CAG indictments on coffins purchased for Kargil martyrs, 4) Public sector assets undervalued and sold to cronies, 5) scams on petrol pumps and land allotments, 6) BJP leaders caught on camera taking bribes.

A few days back, the CAG report on disinvestments in two hotels in Mumbai undertaken by the NDA government were submitted to Parliament. These reports confirm what we had been saying all along _ that the sales of these public sector assets were done in a most non-transparent manner, which caused substantial losses to the national exchequer.

I am sure that the government will take appropriate follow-up action. Incidentally, these CAG reports also reveal, the totally improper use of public funds, to support the so-called "India Shining" campaign. The brazen manner in which the Phukan Commission of Inquiry, into the Tehelka scam was sought to be influenced by those under investigation, also came to light late in this session. Once again this vindicated our position. We came under heavy attack from the BJP on Jharkhand some months back. The truth is now out. It is the BJP that has, according to well-founded reports, indulged in the buying and selling of legislators to put together a majority.

What has been happening in Rajasthan is cause for grave concern. A mischievous attempt is being made to polarize and communalise society in a traditionally peaceful state. Our party must be extremely vigilant and must confront this with all its might.

We are in the final stages of the organizational elections. As soon as they are behind us, we must begin to focus on galvanizing our party, in which each and every one of us has a special role and responsibility. We are also planning to hold a meeting of our Chief Ministers, where we will be reviewing our performance, in states where we are in Government. In states where we are in the Opposition, we must chalk out agitational and (mobilizational) programmes on social and economic issues of concern to the people. And there is no dearth of such issues. In five states, we must gear ourselves for the assembly elections early next year.

I expect every Congressman and woman in these states to work whole-heartedly and tirelessly to retain and expand our political base and space. I have used every forum and every opportunity to highlight one key message that is so obvious and self-evident _ that party unity and discipline is paramount. Our party has always been receptive to different points of view within itself. That is what sets us apart.

At the same time, we must be conscious of the heavy burden that falls on each one of us, to secure the primacy of party interests over individual ones. I am glad that attendance in the House appears to have improved in the past couple of days. I hope that this trend will maintain itself in future as well. Being a MP is a sacred trust with the party and the people. It demands our unflinching attention at all times, but particularly when Parliament is in session.

Next week, our UPA government will be completing one year in office. Let us congratulate the Prime Minister for his leadership, his dignified and effective leadership. This is an occasion for satisfaction at having achieved some of our goals, but it is also an occasion for collective reflection and rededication. The last year has been a year of substantial accomplishments, across a wide spectrum, encompassing agriculture and rural development, rural employment, education, health and nutrition, women and child development, social welfare and empowerment of the weaker sections, infrastructure and economic growth and defence and foreign policy. We have also safeguarded the savings of crores of workers.

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the UPA government on May 22^nd, the Prime Minister with our coalition partners and I will present to the nation our specific progress report. Thereafter, I trust all of you will apprise yourselves fully, of what our government has done so far, and take our achievements to the people in your respective states and constituencies.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our UPA allies and Left Front partners on your behalf. Together, we have worked our coalition well. I am confident that the coalition has cemented itself and this will stand us in good stead in future.

Finally, I wish you all the best till we meet again and look forward to your joining me for dinner this evening at the Parliament Annexe.