The Hindu : Some in NDA support me: Sahgal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 03, 2002

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Some in NDA support me: Sahgal

By Our Special Correspondent

The West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, greeting the CPI(M)'s Presidential candidate, Lakshmi Sahgal, in the Assembly in Kolkata on Tuesday. — Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

KOLKATA JULY 2 . The Left Front presidential candidate, Lakshmi Sahgal, today claimed that certain partners in the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre had assured her of their support.

"Some NDA allies have told me over the telephone that they support my candidature,'' she said at a press conference here. She, however, was not in a position to name them as "it would mean betraying their confidence.''

As part of her campaign, Capt. Sahgal today met the Left Front legislators in the Bengal Assembly, faced mediapersons at the Kolkata Press Club and participated in a reception organised by the leftists at the Kolkata University auditorium. She was accompanied by former MP, Suhasini Ali.

Capt. Sahgal said she was "disappointed" at the support extended by the Congress and the Samajwadi Party to the NDA's presidential nominee, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

She was most certainly not a "token" candidate as had been propagated by certain quarters. "I am very much active. My supporters have full confidence in my abilities.''

Asked how she had agreed to become the candidate of the Left which had criticised Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, she said many did not know what Netaji's ideas were during those days. The British had unleashed a propaganda that Netaji was "a stooge of the Japanese" and the Leftists who were then fighting fascism had no way of knowing that it was false propaganda.

She said the country was currently passing through an extremely difficult phase with its secular fabric being threatened by communal forces. "The leftists are fighting to protect the democratic and secular values. They cannot watch the country slipping into the grip of the fascists.''

Capt. Sahgal said the President could not remain `blind' to problems especially when they involved women and the downtrodden. "It is the job of the President to see that the average man enjoys the rights the Constitution has allowed him.''

She warned the Left Front MLAs against U.S. domination of the Indian economy and mixing of religion in politics. The Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, described Capt. Sahgal as an embodiment of India's freedom struggle and introduced the Front legislators to her.

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