PM seeks Sonia's cooperation

By Harish Khare

NEW DELHI, OCT. 9. In an unusual development, the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Leader of the Opposition and Congress President, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, had a meeting late this evening. It could not be confirmed who took the initiative, but the interaction is being described as an attempt by Mr. Vajpayee to evolve a consensus on India's response to the fast-changing geostrategic environment.

The meeting came about in the context of the Congress decision to ask its Chief Ministers to stay away from the proposed `Davos'- type dialogue between the Centre and the States. The Karnataka Chief Minister was to play host at the proposed Nandi Hills conclave.

The Prime Minister is believed to have asked Ms. Gandhi why the `Davos dialogue' could not take place, and Ms. Gandhi is said to have replied that since the Congress was a political party there were limits to which it could be seen as a cooperative partner of the Government. The two leaders, it seems, agreed to meet more often. The meeting lasted 45 minutes.

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