The Hindu : National : 'Options open on understanding in U.P.'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 07, 2004

National

National

'Options open on understanding in U.P.'

By K.V. Prasad

The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, filing her nomination at Rai Bareli on Tuesday. She is flanked by her children, Rahul and Priyanka. — Photo: Akhilesh Kumar

RAE BARELI, APRIL 6. The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, and her son, Rahul Gandhi, said today that they were unperturbed by the personal attacks made against them by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"We think that if Mr. Narendra Modi [the Gujarat Chief Minister] is targeting us, we are on the right track," Mr. Rahul Gandhi told presspersons, while Ms. Gandhi said: "Let them keep talking."

At a brief interaction with the media after filing her nomination papers for the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency this afternoon and a formal interaction at Sultanpur, Ms. Gandhi was confident that the Congress would do well at the hustings. She said her daughter, Priyanka Vadra, would campaign on her behalf in Rae Bareli while she goes out to campaign for the party throughout the country. Both Mr. Rahul Gandhi and Ms. Priyanka Vadra were present with her.

Having been unable to arrive at a poll pact with any major political party in Uttar Pradesh, Ms. Gandhi said the options were open for an understanding with all "like-minded" secular parties after the elections. However, she kept open the issue of continuing support to the Samajwadi Party Government saying she would have to discuss the matter with her colleagues.

Asked about the charge that the Congress was promoting dynastic politics, she said: "What about the other side (BJP). Did they not induct a member of the same so-called dynasty? The word (dynasty) is unnecessary since we have won or lost democratically."

Mr. Rahul Gandhi asked why he should be penalised for the achievements of his father and family. "Why should I be penalised for the great things they have done, I want to serve the country." He said the decision to do something for the people went back to the day when he was saw the response of the people to Rajiv Gandhi's death.

"Seeing so many people turn up [for the funeral], I decided to do something for the people who loved my father. It was not a decision to enter politics but to do something for the people." However, he was categorical that he was not the "heir apparent."

Asked how he would prefer to shape himself, Mr. Rahul Gandhi said that in his assessment politicians had a problem of speaking the truth or saying what they believe.

"If you hide the truth you assume people are stupid which they are not. People are intelligent... I see myself as someone who cares for his country."

Ms. Priyanka Vadra said that while she would concentrate in Rae Bareli, she was willing to campaign elsewhere provided the party so desired. She discounted a question that with her brother entering electoral politics, there could be an alternative power centre in the party.

And to avoid such a situation, the party had fielded only one of the siblings.

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