The Statesman has given front-page coverage (24 November, 1999) to Shri V.N. Gadgil's letter to you suggesting a radical re-orientation of the Congress ideology and policies. This is not the first time he has tried to move the Congress into friendly proximity or peaceful co-existence with the ideology of Hindutva or Cultural Nationalism, while the Congress has always stood firmly for Secularism and Composite Culture.

Whatever be his purpose and motive, one may well question his arguments. He attributes poor performance by the Congress to rejection of its policy and ideology by 70% of the electorate. Congress may have received 30% of the votes in 1999 but the BJP has received only 25%.

Secondly, Congress, even in its hey day, did not receive more than 50% of the votes cast. Thirdly, Mr. Gadgil ignores that the BJP itself had to put on a secular mask and tactically jettison its pet projects related to Hindutva to attract several parties, which believe in secularism, but were opportunistic ally inclined to share power. This also got the BJP some votes from the fencesitters.

At its core, the BJP still remains a Brahmin or a high caste party. It has tried to expand its social base but, with its Brahminical philosophy, it is finding it hard to resolve its internal contradictions, caused by the rise of the OBC's, SC's and ST's or its ranks.

For à multi-religious country like ours, secularism is the only option. For a multi-cultural country like ours, Multi-culturalism or a composite national culture is the only option. Secularism and Multi-culturalism have today been adopted by the whole world as they fit in with the universal recognition of human rights of individuals and of social groups.

I am not a member of your party but I deem it my national duty to request you that you must reject Mr. Gadgil's plea with the contempt it deserves and keep the Congress resolutely on the right track. In my view the Congress' failure has not been due to its ideology and policy which have stood the test of time but to its occasional failure to apply them forthrightly due to personal or local compulsions.

One R.S. Ticket for Muslim from Delhi

Shahabuddin's Letter to Sonia Gandhi, 24 Nov., 99

As you are aware, the Congress did not give a ticket to any Muslim in the Lok Sabha Election, 1999 from Delhi, although at least in one Constituency Muslims constituted more than 33% of the electorates.

Now the Rajya Sabha elections are due. I request you that at least one ticket should be given to an eminent Muslim from Delhi