Date:17/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/17/stories/2007041703041200.htm

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Rahul Gandhi talked about facts of history: Congress

K.V. Prasad

Remarks will not hit peace process with Pakistan: Congress

What Rahul meant was that the division of Pakistan was not intended

He entered Parliament by contesting polls, not through the backdoor

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday said the reference of Rahul Gandhi vis-à-vis division of Pakistan was about the 1971 war that was thrust on India and eventually led to the creation of Bangladesh and asserted that his remarks would have no bearing on the Indo-Pakistan peace process.

"It was the result"

"What he meant when he referred to it was what happened as a result of the 1971 war that Pakistan thrust [on India]. We did not intend to do that [division of Pakistan] but it was the result. He talked about facts of history,'' party spokesperson Satyavrat Chaturvedi said at a media briefing.

The Congress spokesperson also pounced upon a question on the "dynastic attitude'' of the Amethi MP by his referring only to the role of his family.

Kin of BJP leaders

Confessing that he was actually "itching'' for someone to ask the question, he dipped into a sheet to reel out names of leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Samajwadi Party, and others, whose close relatives were into politics and representatives either in Parliament or Legislatures.

He said Mr. Gandhi did not make it to Parliament by the backdoor but entered the House having contested elections and was endorsed by the people to represent them.

Breathes fresh life

The party claimed that the extensive campaigning/Jan Sampark by Mr. Gandhi had breathed fresh life into the State Congress and the youth. He said political parties which had written off the Congress were now worried at its resurgence.