The Hindu : Govt. on life support: Sonia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 17, 2002

Front Page

Front Page

Govt. on life support: Sonia

By Javed M. Ansari

NEW DELHI MAY 16. The Leader of the Opposition, Sonia Gandhi, told her parliamentary party today that the Government is "surviving on life support system'' and that it is naive to expect governance from it. Delivering the customary end-of-the-session address to her party MPs, she also blamed the Government for the repeated and prolonged disruptions in Parliament, saying "the fault lies entirely with the Government.''

Ms. Gandhi began her speech by referring to the "massacre of innocents" in the terrorist attack in Jammu on May 14 and expressed her sympathy for the families of those killed. Her party had offered its broad support to the Government in the fight against terrorism, she said and called for a comprehensive strategy to counter the menace.

Ms. Gandhi's speech was a critique of the ruling National Democratic Alliance. Attacking the Government for its "all-round failure," she was particularly harsh on its mishandling of the Gujarat situation. She accused the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, of displaying lack of respect for all constitutional norms and human values. "He has been blatantly partisan and deliberately inflammatory,'' she alleged.

The Centre, too, had done precious little to restore law and order in the State or to provide relief and rehabilitation to the affected. It had not intervened effectively under Article 355 after agreeing to do so in Parliament, she charged urging the Congress to be prepared for elections in Gujarat. She, however, emphasised that the main task before the party was to unite the people and bring the two communities closer.

Ms. Gandhi described the Union Budget as "uninspiring and directionless'' and said it would not help revive growth or generate investor momentum. The economy was in a mess with the GDP growth rate and that of other sectoral indicators falling, and problems of poverty and unemployment growing manifold.

She reiterated her party's position on important issues. The Congress believed in a strong Centre and strong States, and it considered strong panchayats a prerequisite for generating and sustaining rural prosperity. And it stood for a strong public sector, vibrant private sector, and healthy cooperative sector.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

Vajpayee reviews security situation

`Full-scale war' not an option

Time for action: Army chief

Govt. on life support: Sonia