NATIONAL POLITICS
Congress(I): President Sitaram Kesri's Views
The Left parties have always joined hands with the BJP to fight the Congress and the BJP is a political outfit of the RSS. The Left, by having a pact with them or carrying forward anti-Congressism, is only playing game And, definitely, the Congress has to remain prepared to fight the BJP or any party aiding abetting it. We will avoid joining hands with casteist, communal and parochial forces. If regional parties promote our vision of communal harmony and secularism, our integrity and sovereignty, there is nothing is wrong in joining hands with them. In 1992, our commitment to fight communalism came under a cloud on December 6 -barely seven months (later). But in Calcutta, and before that, I myself apologised for our failure to act in defence of constitutional provision. We made a commitment to protect places of worship - be it a Masjid or a temple -before the nation and Parliament. We simply chose to be helpless witness to an attack on that commitment. It will not be wrong to admit our failure as a party, as a government, belatedly though it may be.
We are preparing ourselves for election, whenever it comes. And we have to face it.
Communalism and corruption are both serious diseases eating into the vitals of the nation.
Communalism divides society, creates social tension and riots. So does casteism. But corruption relates to individuals. At times, in an over-enthusiastic crusade against corruption, we promote communalism. We supported the RJD government (in Bihar) only after Laloo stepped down and his wife succeeded him Purely as part of a fight against communalism. Otherwise, the BJP will grow there.
(Source: The Outlook, 22 September, 1997)
Shahabuddin's Letter to Minister of Welfare, 4 October, 1997
It is indeed a matter of regret that the Annual Reports of the Minorities Commission, past and present, have never been discussed in either of the Houses of Parliament though nearly 20 years have elapsed since it was originally established under an executive order nor has there been any debate specifically on the situation of religious and linguistic minorities in the country which enjoy constitutional protection.
In view of your interest in the Minorities Welfare, I request you to have a discussion on the Situation of the Linguistic and Religious Minorities in the Country, in the light of the Annual Reports of the Commission for Linguistic Minorities and of the National Commission for Minorities included in the official business for the Winter Session of Parliament.
K.K. Katyal On Congress Prospects under Kesri
Will there be a change in the Congress(I) attitude towards the present government? At the first press conference after his victory, Mr. Kesri publicly assured the Gujral Government continued Congress(I) backing from outside. There were several reasons for that. One, nothing has happened in the past six weeks or so, leading the Congress(I) to revise its decision to support the United Front Government under a new leader. Two, there was little doubt that a repeat performance by Mr. Kesri - of withdrawing support - would only hasten a fresh election which he would like to avoid at this stage, given the sensitivities of the party MPs. Three, Mr. Kesri and the Prime Minster have a good personal equation and rapport - warm enough to provoke occasional digs on Mr. Gujral by his predecessor. However, within the present parameters, the Congress(I) would be more assertive than it was in the past. It would like to play what it regards as its due role as the suppler of the crucial prop to the government.
Will the Congress(I) use the new strength, under an elected president, to work for a share in power? A sizable section in the Congress(I) (wanted) to participate in the government and - according to some - get its due, as a senior partner.
This view was articulated in the past, especially during the party's negotiations with the UF after the fall of Mr. Gowda, but was not pressed to its logical conclusion. Perhaps, the Congress(I) leadership was conscious of the repercussions of any such initiative, the success of which could not be taken for granted.
For far too long, the Congress(I) members had resigned themselves to ad hocism in the working of the party. The recourse to the electoral process, despite its deficiencies and irregularities, could help the Congress members get back their elan and could boost their morale, but whether they will use the new strength for another bout of factional infighting or to impart to the party the much-needed vitality is to be seen.
The party poll and Mr. Kesri's victory are in-house developments. But the erosion of its base has been so vast, the alienation of the people so strong and the loss of traditional vote banks and constituencies so heavy that the internal cosmetic surgery will take care of only a fringe of the gigantic task of recovery Will the SC, ST, other backward classes and minorities most of whom have organised their autonomous platforms, disband their outfits and return to the Congress(I)? The challenges, before Mr. Kesri are formidable.
(Source: The Hindu, 16 June, 1997)
