The Hindu : `H.P. poll result heralds victory of secular forces'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2003

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National

`H.P. poll result heralds victory of secular forces'

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL MARCH 3. The All-India Congress Committee general secretary, Ambika Soni, today said that the BJP wanted to carry forward the Gujarat experiment in other States by raising divisive issues, but by electing the Congress to power, the Himachal Pradesh voters gave a clear mandate in favour of the secular forces.

Ms. Soni, who is also in-charge of the Madhya Pradesh unit of the party, was addressing presspersons here after attending Sunday's MPCC meeting, which was attended by senior State Congress leaders as well as block Congress presidents.

Describing the Gujarat election results as an aberration, Ms. Soni said the atmosphere in that State was not conducive to holding free and fair elections. Recently it had been observed that some communal forces were trying to carry forward their divisive agenda. ``Although Himachal Pradesh is a small State, the Assembly election results in that State are very important as they herald the victory of forces that are determined to uphold the country's unity. In Madhya Pradesh, we will take a mandate from the people on the issue of secularism and expose the associates of the BJP that were trying to vitiate the atmosphere.''

Asserting that the secular forces would continue to succeed under the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi's leadership, Ms. Soni asserted that the MPCC and all Congress workers from Madhya Pradesh were determined to see the Congress return to power for the third consecutive term.

On cow slaughter and Bhojshala issues, Ms. Soni said the BJP was trying to raise divisive issues in Madhya Pradesh. ``The Bhojshala issue has more or less been resolved,'' Ms. Soni said, and, turning to the State Chief Minister, Digvijay Singh, she added: ``He is capable of handling the cow slaughter issue since it is a State subject.''

Asked whether the block Congress presidents were satisfied with the working of the State Ministers, Ms. Soni said the idea was to maintain pressure on each other.

She pointed out that the interaction with party workers was rewarding and said that the workers had aired their views without any hesitation. Ms. Soni stressed the need for bringing about more ``coordination and adjustment'' between the ruling party organisation and the Government machinery but emphasised that personal interests should never be allowed to interfere with the Government working.

Roads and electricity were issues that would be raised by the BJP in the coming Assembly elections. However, the Congress party would be focusing attention on forces that wanted to divide society.

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