Overseas Friends of Indian Congress (OFIC)

[25th June 2001 – 1930 hrs]

Fellow Indians and Friends:

I am indeed glad that all of you could make it this evening. When we are out of the country, I feel that we should keep domestic politics aside. We have enough of that back home in any case. Nevertheless, your presence reflects goodwill and support for the Congress.

We are not in office in New Delhi but out of 28 chief ministers in the country, eleven, the single largest number, belong to the Indian National Congress. Congress-ruled states are in the forefront of providing good governance and effective administration with a focus on economic reform, poverty alleviation and social development. Many of these are India’s largest and economically important states. Therefore, in large parts of our country it is Congress policies, programmes and ideology, which hold sway and have popular electoral appeal.

The Congress has been part and parcel of Indian life for the past 115 years. It is for this reason, perhaps, that it tends to get taken for granted. But every once in a while we need to remind ourselves and the rest of the world who we are, what we stand for and what sets us apart from other political parties.

The Congress mirrors India in all its diversity. It represents, like no other party does, the plurality of India. It is the only pan-Indian party that draws it support and sustenance from each and every section of our society that appeals to and derives its encouragement from all Indians, irrespective of caste, community, religion, language or region. Diversity has defined us. It should not be used to divide us. We are the only party that celebrates, our diversity to keep us united. A fractured India cannot prosper. A divided India cannot progress.

The Congress is the only broad-based political party in India, a political party that is not sectarian or parochial in its outlook. When out of power at the Centre, we do not believe in playing partisan politics with crucial national issues. Out legislative record in Parliament in the past three years speaks for itself.

The Congress’s core is secular. Indian unity is founded on secularism. For us secularism is an article of faith. We are a Party whose leaders have given their lives at the altar of secularism. Secularism, for us, means equal respect for all religions.

The Congress’s relentless crusade has been against those self-appointed champions of Indian culture who are actually distorting the very essence of our legacy and heritage.

The Congress’s economic policy has not been wedded to any doctrine but has been anchored in a vision – a vision of an India free from poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition, an India with the resilience to feed itself., an India participating self-confidently in the global economy from a position of strength and an India where the fruits of growth are enjoyed by all sections of society and all regions of the country. Out economic policy has not based on any dogma nor is it founded on any magic mantra.

We have always in a mixed economy and continue to do so recognising that the ingredients of that mix must undergo changes from time to time to reflect new and emerging challenges. We are irrevocably committed to the creation of an economic environment conducive to innovation, creativity of enterprise and individual initiative. We still see a crucial role for public investment in the expansion of rural and social infrastructure and in the development of backward areas. Through economic liberalization and globalisation, we seek to strengthen the investment and management capacity of the state to address fundamental socio-economic concerns in a sustainable manner. Today, if India is being recognized as a global power in IT, in higher education and research, it is thanks to the vision of Jawaharlal Nehru, the determination of Indira Gandhi and the commitment of Rajiv Gandhi to see India occupy a pre-eminent position in science and technology. The foundations of India’s nuclear and space programmes were laid and strengthened by successive Congress governments.

In sum, our economic policy is pragmatic, out social philosophy all-inclusive and our political ideology one that integrates a strong Centre, strong states and strong panchayats and municipal bodies all drawing strength and sustenance from each other.

I see politics as much more than a mere exercise of power or of numbers. Politics, as Gandhiji used to repeatedly emphasise, is an instrument of social transformation and economic change. I am aware that there is considerable cynicism both about politics and politicians among the educated sections of our society. That is very unfortunate and weakness our democracy. Politics must once again acquire a moral stature and begin to attract the best and the brightest and give them a sense of lofty national purpose. This is what we are trying to do while ensuring that we remain a voice for the poor, the dispossessed, the deprived and the disadvantaged.

We take great pride in the achievements of the wonderfully gifted and talented Indian diaspora in the United States. Indian students and academics are excelling themselves on university campuses. Indian scientists and technologists are making great contributions in research laboratories. Many American companies are headed by Indians. Indian doctors are a powerful community. Indian entrepreneurs have fuelled the growth of the new economy here although now I am told that B2B stands for Back-to-Bangalore! Indians are distinguishing themselves in cultural life as well, in journalism and in the arts. And recently, we find that Indians here have emerged as a formidable influential political force also. We must fashion a more creative and more effective role for the diaspora in India’s economic and social development. All of you have already succeeded in changing America’s perceptions of India substantially, in the process doing more than what an army of politicians and diplomats could achieve. What we now need to do is mobilize and harness your skills and expertise for India’s faster growth. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijay Singh, has already launched an innovative scheme for involving overseas Indians in the implementation of primary education programmes in his state. The Chief Minister of Karnataka, S.M. Krishna, is building a network of biotechnologists to assist in the state’s agricultural growth. Other Congress Chief Ministers have announced their intention to involve overseas Indians in areas like primary and technical education and public health. A group of overseas Indians has come forward with a proposal to fully fund a chain of IIT-like institutions and I am told that another group is working on establishing a joint America-India Foundation. As far as Congress-run states are concerned, we will spare no effort in making all of you partners in progress.

A few words about the current scene in India. The Indian economy has shown great resilience and in the face of great odds grew by almost 6.5% annually in the 1990s. That, however, is not adequate and a 7-8% rate of economic growth is an absolute pre-requisite for addressing poverty and unemployment concerns in a meaningful manner. India is integrating itself into the global economic system but we are worried about the growth of anti-globalisation and protectionist sentiment in the advanced nations.

The strengthening of panchayats, one of the greatest contributions of Rajiv Gandhi incidentally, is changing the face of rural India and we now have three million elected representatives at the local level, one-third of whom are women, consolidating the foundations of democracy. Our representative and exuberant democracy should be a matter of great celebration to all of us Indians.

Indian society is seeing the empowerment of various disadvantaged groups and communities. Our affirmative action programmes are unique in the world and this has given voice and power to sections of our society who have been outside the social mainstream for centuries. New social alignments and coalitions are being forged. True, this is adding to uncertainty of electoral outcomes in some states but I think that this is an inevitable process of churning and transition. Southern and western states of India has shown that social justice and economic progress can go hand-in-hand and it is that experience that has to be replicated elsewhere as well.

Once again, let me thank you for coming here this evening and I look forward to staying in touch with you.