REPORT

IYC State Presidents Plan Month-long Stir

The AICC general secretary, Mr. Oscar Fernandes addressing the meeting of the State presidents of the IYC in New Delhi on October 16, 2001. Also seen are (L to R) Ms. L. Tilotama, IYC president Randeep Singh Surjewala and IYC general secretary Anil Bhardwaj

A meeting of the state presidents of the Indian Youth Congress was held at Teen Murti Bhawan, New Delhi on October, 16, 2001 and passed the following resolution :

The NDA government has once again compromised with the national security and national interest by re-inducting George Fernandes in the Union Cabinet. Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee has no moral authority to grant clean chit to any person. Case in point Shri Fernandes, especially when seven months back Prime Minister himself removed him from the office after tehelka.com highlighted his involvement in the defencegate scandal. Shri Vajpayee has no right to entrust him with the same ministry again, when a corruption case involving him is still pending before a commission of inquiry and the investigations are still on.

The Vajpayee Government is hell bent upon destroying the secular fabric of India not only by saffronizing the education but also by provoking communal sentiments of people. To add fuel to the fire, irresponsible people like Pramod Mahajan are openly claiming that it is a shame for all the family members of Sangh Parivar that a Ram Temple is still not constructed at Ayodhya. Recently, during their National Convention, the cadre of BJYM, after teasing women and creating havoc in the city, tried to destroy the Taj Mahal - the symbol of national prestige, and biased UP Government did not take a single action against them. This bunch of unfit parties is posing a serious threat to the unity and integrity of India.

This anti-youth NDA government, even after two years into office, has completely failed in formulating a comprehensive youth policy. In 1999, it came to power with a promise of providing jobs to one crore youths every year, but has not even crossed the figure of twenty thousand in the last two years. Moreover, it has reduced the funding the self-finance schemes like PMRY by almost 35 percent.

It is in this background and keeping in mind the recent political developments at the national level, Indian Youth Congress in the state presidents meeting passed the following resolutions :

1. IYC strongly condemns the re-induction of Shri George Fernandes and Shri Hiren Pathak in the Union Cabinet and Shri Bangaru Laxman’s appointment as the Chairman of Housing Committee of the Parliament.

2. IYC warns NDA government to desist from compromising with the security and interest of the nation.

3. IYC demands that an immediate ban should be imposed on the lunatic outfit like Bajrang Dal, as the government has already banned SIMI.

4. IYC warns the government to immediately stop saffronisation of the education.

5. IYC demands that government must come up with a comprehensive National Youth Policy to effectively address the issues concerning youth.

6. IYC strongly demands that Prime Minister must resign from the post, as he has totally been unable to check corruption at high places.

7. IYC proposes to launch a vigorous month-long nation-wide campaign to oppose the re-induction of tainted persons in the Union Cabinet, and also against government’s protection to corruption at high places.

Today, the unity and integrity of India is at stake. The mean-minded parties like BJP have injected pioson of communalism and corruption in Indian society. The very nature of India - "unity in diversity" is threatened. This is our duty in the Youth Congress to rise to the occasion and come forward to liberate our nation from the clutches of such anti-national parties. IYC resolves to strengthen the hands of Congress president, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, to protect the unity and integrity of India.

The meeting was presided over by the IYC president, Mr. Randeep Singh Surjewala and addressed by the AICC general secretary, Mr. Oscar Fernandes, the IYC general secretary, Mr. Anil Bharadwaj, Ms. L. Tilotama and state IYC presidents.

- Satpal, Additional Spokesman, IYC