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Govt. lacks strategy on Kashmir: Sonia

By Javed M. Ansari

The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, the former Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Kamal Nath and others observing silence in memory of departed Congress leaders prior to the AICC meeting in New Delhi on Friday. — Photo: V. Sudershan

New Delhi May 24. Warning Pakistan that cross-border terrorism was equally unacceptable to the Congress and pledging unreserved support to the Vajpayee Government in its current stand-off with Islamabad, the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi declared there were fundamental and irreconcilable differences between the BJP and the Congress.

``As a responsible political party, we extend our hand of support to the Government at this critical hour, as a responsive political party we cannot overlook that this is also a Government that has revealed monumental incompetence on many fronts,'' she said in her inaugural address to the All- India Congress Committee session at the Talkatora Garden this morning.

The political resolution, introduced by the veteran leader, Arjun Singh, takes note of the ``flawed'' internal security measures, and criticises the Centre for not having a strategy ``for a comprehensive settlement'' of the problems in Jammu and Kashmir. The resolution also diagnoses the crux of the issue: ``the State Government is neglectful of its obligations for good governance and the Centre is in the control of those who do not have even the grace of a commitment to secularism to guide their day-to-day decisions.'' The tone of the political resolution and the thrust of Mrs. Gandhi's speech were a mix of ``nationalist'' support and critical evaluation of the Government's management of the affairs in Kashmir.

Mrs. Gandhi reiterated the party's commitment to secularism: ``Our secular credentials will get strengthened, not weakened if we mount an aggressively appropriate response. We cannot, have not, and will not indulge in competitive communalism. The Congress rejects the very notion of any religion being under threat or danger. This is an entirely false idea spread by forces who misuse religion to mobilise people for electoral gains.''

The political resolution demanded imposition of President's rule in Gujarat. Virtually all the speakers blasted the Modi Government for its `communalist' approach to the Godhra incident and for its failure to restore law and order. Mrs. Gandhi said the party need not get intimidated by the Sangh Parivar propaganda over the presumed ``Hindu consolidation'' which would benefit the BJP in the next Assembly election.

``We will go to the people of Gujarat with one message. This is the message of social peace and harmony of religious amity and understanding. We categorically reject the politics of hate. We will go to the people with a politics that unites, not divides, a politics that heals, not wounds,'' she said.

Her theme was elaborated by delegates from Gujarat — Shankersinh Waghela, Pravin Rashtrapal, Amarsinh Chaudhry — who declared themselves to be ready to throw down the gauntlet for Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister.

The party, however, remained ambiguous over the question of a coalition arrangement at the Centre. The resolution was purposefully vague on the party's approach: ``it will act within the parameters set out at Pachmarhi and the Bangalore plenary session in this regard.''

The mood among the delegates seemed to be that the party was on a comeback trail and therefore there was no need for it to enter into any kind of coalition.

The economic resolution castigates the Vajpayee Government's management of the economy. While reaffirming the party's commitment to ``economic reforms'', it also takes note of the need to make them relevant to the poor.

A lack of uniformity in enthusiasm for the reforms could be discerned among various delegates who spoke on the economic resolution. Similarly, the foreign policy resolution commits the party to traditional Nehruvian paradigm, and is harshly critical of the Government's handling of external affairs. Natwar Singh, who initiated the debate was particularly unsparing in his comments about the External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh's stewardship.

By and large, it was a day of celebration of the party and its leadership by the Congressmen. The delegates left the AICC session in a combative and confident mood.

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