National

Border situation may overshadow AICC meet

By Javed M. Ansari

NEW DELHI MAY 20. The day-long AICC session on Friday runs the risk of being overshadowed by the fast developing situation on the border. It was originally planned to put the Government on the mat for its mishandling of the Gujarat situation, but following the terrorist attack on Jammu and the changed political environment, it might have to redraw its plans.

The decision on the AICC session was taken after the Guwahati conclave of the Congress Chief Ministers. At that session, the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had drawn the battle lines against the BJP and had made no secret of her plans to fight the next electoral battle on the issues of good governance and secularism. The call for an unrelenting battle against the Hindutva forces was to have been pegged on the communal strife in Gujarat and the BJP leadership's "tacit approval" for them.

Fears are being expressed in a section of the party that the session may have lost its peg, given the changed situation. In fact, there was a suggestion to postpone the session, but the party leadership decided against it. The party managers are, however, confident that the session will be able to strike a balance between the need to be seen not at odds with the Government on the question of national security, yet at the same time, put it on the mat for its "all-round failure, especially its inability to maintain social harmony''.

The AICC leadership maintains that the party will be able to put its point across and share its assessment of the situation with the 1,600 delegates and the 1,000 special invitees. "We are conscious of the situation on the border, but because of that we cannot forget about Gujarat, the Government's failure to provide proper relief, we will also focus on how the Congress-ruled States in similar situations have successfully prevented riots from spreading,'' the AICC general secretary, Ambica Soni, said.

Three committees under Arjun Singh, Manmohan singh and Natwar Singh have been formed to prepare the draft resolutions on the political, economic and the international situation. These resolutions will be given a final once-over by the CWC on May 22, before it is presented to the AICC on Friday.

The political resolution is expected to focus on the threat posed by the communal forces, besides indicating the response that the party should adopt to meet the challenge. It is also expected to clarify the party's position on the idea of forming a coalition government at the Centre.

The resolution on the international situation assumes significance in the context of the present tensions with Pakistan.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• War is not a solution: Bardhan
• Govt. hopes Narayanan will say `no'
• `PM will lead the battle against terrorism'
• Now, Cong. demands elections in Gujarat
• War only the last option: Farooq
• Support Vajpayee in the hour of crisis: Gowda
• Ajit Singh wants farm subsidies to be enhanced
• First farm job portal launched
• CPI (ML) wants Govt. to de-escalate tensions
• New scheme for salaried taxpayers
• India willing to discuss Gujarat violence with EU
• U.S. team on human rights meets NCM
• Stop murderous attacks, Germany tells Pak.
• Border situation may overshadow AICC meet

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu