Untitled - Congress Sandesh

Letter to Congress WorkersDear friends,The UPA government is proud to celebrate two years at the helm of governance in India. Thelast two years have, for us, been a period of learning and of achievement. Especially, for theCongress Party, that has for the first time led a Coalition government at the Center. We havelearnt to respect and value the advice of our allies and yet stand by our own Party’s principles.The Congress represents not one constituency, not one state or one caste. It is a representativeof India as a whole. An India, that is diverse linguistically, in terms of religion and ideas, istoday a proud democracy because it was the Congress Party that ensured that our democracysurvived the ups and downs of political turmoil. It was the Congress Party that was able toknit the different strands of Indian diversity into a nation. Even today, we welcome debateand discussion on every issue. We believe that every one in India has the freedom to putforward their opinions in a peaceful manner.The UPA government has several major achievements to its credit. It has remained firmly committed to placing the needs of thecommon man at the forefront of all development planning and budgetary allocations. It has increased resource allocation for all socialsector issues such as health, education and rural development. Our emphasis has been on inclusive growth and development and withparticipation from civil society. We have systematically targeted the deteriorating state of our agricultural sector and have put in placeschemes and policies to safeguard and protect the interests of our farmers. And we will continue to focus on this area. Our farmersin certain regions are still in great distress. The issue of farmers’ suicides and the reasons behind it have to be tackled on a war footing.In a country where trade and the overall economy is doing well, the death of even a single debt ridden farmer is an immeasurabletragedy and cannot be allowed to continue.It is keeping in mind the needs of our poor and impoverished rural areas that the Congress Party has launched the National RuralEmployment Guarantee Scheme and its success in the 200 selected districts will help in providing a modicum of security to our ruralpoor. It is also worth highlighting that a large number of workers applying under this scheme are rural women, often those left behinddue to male migration. It is women who are responsible for the family survival and it is indeed a positive sign that they are directlybenefiting from this scheme. It is now the duty of our cadres to ensure that this scheme remains transparent and linked to the goalsof rural development.Similarly, the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan has yielded good progress and the enrolment in primary schools across the country has never beenhigher. Linked to this, the UPA government has also fine-tuned the mid-day meal scheme and brought in mothers and NGO’s to helpmonitor and ensure the quality of the food provided to children through this scheme. The UPA government firmly believes that oursocial development programmes must be both adequately funded and adequately monitored so that corruption is firmly weeded out atall levels of implementation.The UPA government is also proud of the strong showing of the Indian economy. We have initiated new programmes of public/privatepartnership and our government is exploring means through which employment opportunities be further augmented to increase India’scompetitive edge. For this, our focus on infrastructure development is a valuable goal. Our government is also committed to focusingon the needs of the informal sector worker so that this large sector too benefits from the overall growth of the economy.The UPA government realizes that there is still a great deal that needs to be done and a lot that can be done to raise the standard ofliving of our poor and marginalized and we will continue to focus on the Aam Adami to which the Congress is committed.Congress Sandesh, May, 2006 1

Letters to the EditorHistoric StepI welcome the historic step taken by the Congress President,Smt. Sonia Gandhi, who to uphold the moral values resigned fromParliament and the National Advisory Council. I would urge ourCongress leaders, who on their own, should relinquish those postswhich may come under “office of profit”.Reservation- Raghunath Prasad Srivastava,Congress Sevadal, Gopalganj (Bihar)I want to draw the kind attention of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, President,AICC, to do necessary efforts forconstitutional amendments toprovide 5% reservation in jobs formuslims of Andhra Pradesh at parwith scheduled tribes. ChiefMinister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Y.S.Rajashekhar Reddy taking intoconsideration the poor conditionsand their position in jobs hasmanaged to honour his pre-electionpromise by giving 5% reservationfor muslims, but the Courts haveobjected to it. Now it may beprovided only through aconstitutional amendment. Hence,I request Smt. Sonia Gandhi toprovide it.- S.K. Bashied Baba,Chairman, Ponnur &Nidubrolu Town CongressSevadal, Guntur, A.P.Victory with Record MarginThe Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi will emerge victoriousin the Rae Bareli Parliamentary bye-election with a record margin.I even doubt that all other candidates contesting will surely forfeittheir deposits. Smt. Gandhi is an illustrious leader and peopleand youth respect her and are behind her. People from allreligions will back her during the Rae Bareli election.- Suraj Prakash Laddi,Gen. Sec., City Congress Committee, LudhianaBharat Nirman Should be Multi-Dimensional‘Bharat Nirman’ is a scheme aimed to provide minimum basicfacilities to millions of people. This is a big step. It requires fullparticipation of public organizations and social and politicalworkers. The UPA Government is moving ahead to realize thistarget. Its aim is clear, its thinking and target are well consideredand hones. It will help those 80% people who are still facingnon-availability of basic amenities. Development does not meanfollowing the life style of the developed societies but to providefacilities to those crores of people who are still unable to haveminimum required amenities. Our thinking should not be toconcentrate on what type of India we require, but to have such aIndia in which people should lead ahappy life. At the same time, itsresult should be multi-dimensional.- Ratan Lal Tambi,Former State Minister,Rajasthan, JaipurPower CutsSummer has come bringing alongwith it dreaded power cuts. Even inthe Country’s capital, Delhi is notspared of power cuts, which havebeen going on for decades. It is amatter of shame that while we talkof becoming a major if not superpower, we are yet to solve powerproblem. In a country like India withabundant natural resources, thereis power shortage. How can anyoneset up an industry in our country?We do not have dependableinfrastructure. We can take a lesson from China in this. Why can’tthe state governments call big business groups like Birlas, Tatas,Ambanis and others and ask them to set up power plants. Andanyone who wants to set up a power plant should be allowed todo so and rule should be made in such a way that this should bepossible. We talk of reforms. Let us bring reforms to help ordinarypeople by giving them common facilities like power, drinking waterand medical facilities.- Ramesh Rao,Nallakunta, Hyderabad2 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

ContentsPublished in Hindi & EnglishVol. 8 No. 9, May, 2006Editorial BoardChairmanK. Natwar SinghMembersMani Shankar AiyarSalman KhursheedSarvjit SinghPoonam SahiEditorAnil ShastriManaging EditorKVS Rama SarmaAssociate EditorDr. Ravni ThakurEditorial TeamRam Naresh SinhaRattan FrancisBipin SharmaManager (Admn. & Circulation)Kamal ShahuDesign & LayoutBenchmark Graphic (P) Ltd. & Kamal ShahuComputergraphicsMohan Singh KatyuraAcknowledgementsThe Hindu, Hindustan Times, India Today. TheEconomics Times, The Indian Express, NationalHerald, The Times of India, R.K.Laxman, Ravi Gulati(Photographer) Press Trust of India, Photo Division.Editorial & Correspondence officeCongress Sandesh,24 Akbar Road, New Delhi-110 011.Phone: 2301 9080 Extn: 429, Fax: 2301 7047Published byVasant Sathe on behalf of ‘Sandesh Trust’Printed at : Chaar Dishayen Printers,G-40, Sector - 3, NOIDA - 201301Edited by : KVS Rama SarmaWebsites : www.congresssandesh.com &http\\:congresssandesh.netSubscription RatesMonthly Rs. 10/-One Year Rs. 100/-Two Year Rs. 175/-Three Year Rs. 250/-DD/Cheques may be sent in favour of ‘Sandesh Trust’Completion of two year in office bythe UPA government at the Centredeserves celebration on more thanone count. First and foremost is thatthis is the first time the CongressParty has led a coalition governmentat the Centre. As the leader of thecoalition, Congress proved itsdemocratic spirit by combining thepolicies of the coalition partners intoa Common Minimum Programme.Managing as diverse parties as theleft and the LJP of Ram Vilas Paswanin a coalition is not an easy task. Butthe Congress president, Smt. SoniaGandhi and the Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh worked skillfully toensure that the Common MinimumProgramme is adhered to strictly andcontroversies that erupted over issuelike privatization are handled withunderstanding and in a harmoniousmanner. The record of the two yearsof the UPA government is indeedexemplary. This bright record shouldauger well for the Coalition tocomplete its full term without anydoubt. The UPA has assured thecountry that in case of a fracturedmandate in elections, politicalstability can still be ensured thougha coalition of like-mided parties.BY-POLL RESULTSmt. Sonia Gandhi wins with record MarginCPP MEETCongress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi asks partymento double our efforts to ensure good results asassembly elections will soon be in Punjab, Uttaranchaland UPASSEMBLY ELECTIONSCongress forms Government in AssamCP’S SPEECHCongress president says that the Congress Party is9committed to the upliftment of the poorWOMEN URGED TO VOTESmt. Sonia Gandhi says that women have to play an10important role in the development of societyPOLL RESULTSList of successful candidates- Assembly ElectionsINDO-GERMAN COOPERATIONPrime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that India has13become a production base and an export hubCIVIL SERVICESPrime Minister appeals for reorienting the Civil14ServicesCOVER STORYDr. Ravni Thakur writes about development andgrowth achieved on the completion of two years of15UPA governmentJAN SAMPARK ABHIYANShri Rahul Gandhi accuses Uttar Pradesh government18of ignoring developmentRAE BARELIThe important of Rae Bareli for the Nehru-Gandhi19familyVIEWPOINTBhakta Charan Dal analyses how Smt. Sonia Gandhileads by example20OPINIONOnly Rahul Gandhi’s way can save Uttar Pradesh,21opines Shri Sarvjit SinghHISTORYPravin Davar remembers Moti Lal NehruOBITUARYGhani Khan Chaudhary Passes AwaySTATES WATCHBalidan DiwasBig win for Ghulam Nabi AzadMAHILA CONGRESSAICC DIARYPHOTOFILETo Our Readers / SubscribersIn view of the increased cost of paper and printing we are compelled to raise the per copy price ofCongress Sandesh to Rs. 10/- w.e.f. June 2002. Subscritpion charges for fresh subscirbers: forOne Year Rs. 100/-, Two Years Rs. 175/-, Three Years Rs. 250/ Outstation cheques should includeRs. 20 towards realization charges. Cheques may be sent in favour of ‘Sandesh Trust’Editor5681122262728293032Congress Sandesh, May, 2006 3

EditorialA Continued Commitment to Inclusive GrowthThe UPA government, led by the Congress Party, as the singlelargest Party, celebrates two years at the Centre this month. Twoyears within which the Congress has skillfully learned to handlethe different needs and visions of its coalition partners by stickingto the Common Minimum Programme. The Common MinimumProgramme highlights the commitment of the UPA governmentto its charter of social development and inclusive economicgrowth. The Congress Party realizes that while each of its partnershas different, and sometimes, opposing agendas, it believes thatthere are no issues that cannot be resolved through dialogueand discussion.In the past twenty-four months, the UPA government hasperformed at every level. We have seen unprecedented economicgrowth, with the GDP poised to rise to 8 percent. We have alsoseen an increase in employment growth and robust trade figures.The UPA government, has accordingly, made every effort to focuson strong social sector development. Rural development andturning around our declining agricultural sector has been themain focus of the UPA government in the past two years. Thegovernment has sought to increase spending on rural areas inevery sector, chiefly rural infrastructure development, a ruralhealth mission and stress on education through the Sarva SikshaAbhiyan. Fund allocations for all these programmes have beenincreased.Chief amongst the major programmes that the Congress Partyhas taken the lead in is the National Rural Employment GuaranteeScheme. This scheme has already met with huge successthroughout the 200 districts, testifying to the correctness of thisprogramme.The UPA government has also reiterated its commitment to theprinciples of secularism. It is firmly opposed to all forces thatattempt to misuse religion for political gains. The Congress Partyhas especially criticized the BJP’s latest Rath Yatra, designed asit is to polarize the country along communal lines.Major gains have also been made where our foreign policy isconcerned. Under the UPA government, India has initiated a newpeace process with Pakistan. Relations with China have beenfurther cemented and trade between the two countries is expectedto reach twenty billion US dollars in the next five years. Ourrelations with Russia too remain as strong as ever. There hasbeen an enormous improvement in our relations with America.India remains firmly committed to a multi-lateral world orderwhere the dignity and independence of each nation is respectedirrespective of size. India believes that peaceful negotiationsare the only way forward to solve all international issues, includingthe Iran nuclear issue. India has also played a constructive rolein Nepal and has supported the aspirations of the people of Nepalfor democracy.Under the UPA regime, India has helped push the agenda of thirdworld countries forward and continues to fight for an equitabledistribution of world trade by calling upon developed countriesto cut down on subsidies that give their agricultural sectors anunequal advantage.Under the UPA government, the country has made great stridesin all spheres and once again brought back harmony to thecountry. Yet, at the same time, the UPA government, unlike theprevious NDA regime, does not propose to rest merely on thelaurels of a high and rising GDP growth. We must rememberthat large tracts of India are still troubled by extreme poverty andthat our farmers are still committing suicide in some parts of thecountry. The Congress president, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, has alsoexpressed her concern repeatedly regarding the plight of ourfarmers. This must be handled immediately. We must alsoremember that the law and order situation in some areas,especially growing Naxal violence in certain regions, has to beurgently tackled. The Centre is committed to providing strongsupport to states facing the Naxal menace by providing bothdevelopment and other logistic support. At the same time, theissues of poverty and land reform in these areas too needs to behandled.The UPA government firmly believes that over the next few yearsof its tenure in office, it will be able to provide India with a firmereconomic footing closely linked to strong poverty alleviationprogrammes that make our development inclusive and bringmore and more people out of poverty. It believes that strongstate intervention at this level must go hand in hand by cultivatinga spirit of entrepreneurship amongst its people. India is largelya young country and its demographic profile demands that weprovide equal opportunities at all levels for all its people. ❖4 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

Sonia Wins by a Record MarginBy-PollCongress president polls 4,74,891 votes; rivals lose depositsBihar in the 1989 elections and the former Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao had avictory margin of more than5.80 lakh votes in the 1991by-election in the Nandyalseat in Andhra Pradesh.It was only a token fight inRae Bareli by Smt. Gandhi’sopponents, including theSamajwadi Party’s RajKumar Chowdhury (57,003votes) and the BJP’sfirebrand leader and UttarPradesh BJP chief VinayKatiyar (19,657). UmaBharti supported Apna Dalcandidate Prabha Singhwho trailed far behind.RAE BARELI: Smt. Sonia Gandhi on 11 th May recorded her biggesteverelectoral triumph by winning the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha byelectionwith a margin of over 4.17 lakh votes. It has come less thanseven week after resigning in the face of a shrill Opposition attackover the office-of-profit issue.Smt. Gandhi, who resigned the seat on March 23 facingdisqualification petitions that she was holding an office of profit bybeing chairperson of the National Advisory Council (NAC), rompedhome comfortably by securing 4,74,891 of the 5,90,026 votes polledin a low turnout of 43 per cent in this backward rural constituency.She had also quit the NAC post.The 59-year-old, Smt. Gandhi trounced a total of 15 rivals, includingthose from the Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party,who all lost their security deposits. This also is a record. She recordedthe highest victory margin by any candidate in Rae Bareli so far,including Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi. Her marginof victory in the 2004 general elections in the same constituencywas over 2.48 lakh votes.The record for the highest margin in any polls was clocked byCommunist Party of India (Marxist) MP Anil Basu, who won by over5.92 lakh votes in Arambagh in West Bengal in 2004. Ram VilasPaswan had won by a margin of 5.05 lakh votes from Hajipur inThe Nehru-Gandhi family orpersons close to it have sofar won the Rae Bareli seat in 14 of the 17 elections held there since1952.The electoral triumph was Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s, but her childrenRahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra were at hand in this ruralconstituency to savour her win together, saying that there was nosibling rivalry between them.“In my immediate family there is no sibling factor. We are alwaysone. We have always been one. We will always be one,” Rahul Gandhi,the MP from adjoining Amethi, told presspersons, on 11 th May, flankedby his sister and brother-in-law Robert Vadra.Shri Gandhi also got copious praise from Smt. Vadra, who said herbrother had “really worked very hard” and had done a “great job.”Smt. Vadra, appointed election agent by Smt. Sonia Gandhi, came tothe constituency towards the fag end of the campaign.Smt. Gandhi defeated her nearest rival, Raj Kumar Chowdhury ofthe Samajwadi Party, by a margin of 4,17,888 votes, a record forthe constituency.Shri Rahul Gandhi said: “I concentrated on the work given to me. Idid not focus on what the margin would be. My mother had givenme a job and my only focus was to get the job done. ❖Congress Sandesh, May, 2006 5

CPP MeetThe UPA Govt. Looks AheadFollowing is Congress President’s speechto the CPP in Parliament House on 15 th May, 2006Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Shri Pranab Mukherjee ji,Dr. Karan Singh ji, CPP Office bearers, Fellow MPs,As always I am overwhelmed by your affection and goodwill. Thesefeelings and sentiments, as those of lakhs of party workers, giveme the strength to persevere in the cause of our party and country.I also thank the people of Rae Bareli for reposing their trust in meso overwhelmingly in spite of the extreme heat.Our colleagues in Assam deserve all credit for the manner inwhich they campaigned to bring us back to power. Most exitpolls and observers had written us off. But clearly the CongressParty’s policies, the programmes and projects that our stategovernment had been implementing struck a responsive chordamongst the people.We now have a mandate to continue with our political, economicagenda for the welfare of Assam. There are, however, someregions in the state where our performance could have been farbetter. These weaknesses have to be addressed.In Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry too, our performance has beenvery creditable.While congratulating our alliance partners, we can be fairlysatisfied with our showing as well. Although we have been out ofpower in Tamil Nadu for almost four decades, it is clear that thereis support for us.If we function cohesively, our party can do even better in thefuture.In Kerala, our government’s contributions and achievements inthe past five years had been acknowledged and appreciated.However, it is obvious that the work done has fallen short ofpeople’s expectations there. We were unable to break with thepattern of electoral verdicts in that state – though our share ofthe popular vote is still very solid and significant.The West Bengal results have been very disappointing. We nowhave a huge task ahead of us.One round of state assembly elections is over and another roundwill be on us in about six-seven months from now in Punjab,Uttaranchal and UP. We are the incumbent in two of these statesand must, therefore, double our efforts to ensure good results.This is that time of the year when all of us look at the skies oftenpraying for the rains. I am sure the government is closelymonitoring the situation, and will not allow the prices of essentialcommodities to be subject to speculation on the fate of themonsoon. The wheat situation needs to be monitored. While wemust ensure that there are sufficient buffer stocks, the interestsof wheat growers must be protected from the impact of any largescaleimports.It has been about three months since the Prime Minister launchedthe National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in Anantapurdistrict. The issue regarding the wage rate to be paid – will haveto be settled soon – in a just and fair manner while ensuring thatthere is no adverse impact on this important and vital programme.On May 26 th we will be having a convention of the DCC Presidentsfrom the 200 districts where the Act is being enforced. Theconvention will give us an opportunity to review the activities ofthe DCCs, PCCs and frontal organizations in the implementationof the Act and also lay out a specific agenda for political actionand mobilization in the months ahead, particularly in the non-Congress states.I have said before that you also have a vital role to play in givingus – both in the party and the government – feedback – not juston Rural Employment Guarantee Act but also on other flagshipinitiatives of the government like Bharat Nirman, Rural HealthMission, the Urban Renewal Mission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, MiddayMeal Scheme and ICDS.Very soon, in a few days our UPA Government will be completingtwo years in office. Let me congratulate the Prime Minister andhis Government on this achievement.This is a milestone on which we can certainly derive somesatisfaction.We have launched a very large number of initiatives in keepingwith our manifesto and the common minimum programme. Nowis the time for consolidation and ensuring that these initiativesbegin to show results on the ground. I would request the PrimeMinister to have a report prepared on all that government hasdone in each state so that the entire party organization is betterinformed and better equipped to propagate our contributions.The Government had set up the National commission on Farmersunder the chairmanship of one of India’s most distinguishedagricultural experts.6 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

CPP MeetThis Commission has made a very large number ofrecommendations for the welfare of farmers. I know howconcerned the Prime Minister is on agriculture, and I am confidentthat these recommendations will be implemented with a senseof urgency. Similarly, the concerns that have been expressed onthe current state of handlooms, handicrafts, village and traditionalindustries, small-scale industry and manufacturing industry shouldalso engage our attention.We have spoken often enough on social security for workers inthe unorganized sector and it is time for some concrete policyactions.Since we met last, there have been two most unfortunate events.The terrorist attacks on innocent civilians in Doda, Udhampur andon Srinagar are a grim reminder that we have to remaindetermined to fight these enemies of peace and harmony andtheir sponsors.Thanking VotersRahul Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra and Robert Vadra wave to supporters at arally to celebrate Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s victory in Rae Bareli onThursday May 11, 2006.Congress Workers in Jubilant MoodThe communal flare-up in Vadodara was entirely the creation ofan insensitive and blatantly partisan state administration. All ofus must remain constantly alert and vigilant.In States like Chattisgarh, Naxalite violence continues. The PrimeMinister has held a meeting with the Chief Ministers of the affectedstates last month – on April 13 th . This is a national issue thatdemands a firm and concrete national response even as we aresensitive to its socio-economic dimensions.On Friday last the Lok Sabha passed the Bill to make specialprovisions for giving interim relief to the citizens of Delhi fromdemolitions.A few other Bills no doubt gets passed in the remaining days, ofwhich the removal of cesses on exports of agricultural products,legislation is significant. I hope the Bills which we had expectedto be passed in this Session will be taken up in the monsoonsession.Friends, before closing let me greet the people of Nepal for themanner in which they have reinforced their faith in representativedemocracy.We wish them all the best and extend our cooperation.Normally, we meet for the valedictory a day before we disperse.The CPP chose to have this meeting today. I take it that this isalso a valedictory of sorts and we don’t need to meet again nextweek.If that be so, I wish all of you the best and once again thank youfor the warmth of your greetings on my becoming a MP onceagain. ❖Thank you.Congress workers seen in jubilant mood at 10 Janpath to celebrate therecord victory of Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareliby-electionCongress Sandesh, May, 2006 7

Assembly ElectionsCongress forms Govt. in AssamGUWAHATI: The Assam Governor, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Ajay Singhadministered oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Tarun Gogoi as the18 th Chief Minister of Assam on 14 th May.He alone took the oath but indicated the list of council of ministerswould be finalized soon in consultation with party high command,Smt. Sonia Gandhi.The Congress has 53 members and its alliance partner BPPF (H)have 11, while seven Independents have also extended supporttaking the final tally to 71, well above the halfway mark of 63 in126-member Assam Assembly. All the top dignitaries, both civiland police officials, were present in the Durbar Hall, where theofficial ceremony took place.This is the second consecutive term of chief minister Tarun Gogoi,a feat none had achieved in the past 40 years in Assam politics.Immediately after his swearing-in, the chief minister of Assamsaid that his immediate priority would be to expedite the initiativeshe had taken in the last term for development and peace. “Myprime focus will be to restore peace and expedite the infrastructuredevelopment works,” he said adding that his immediate task wouldbe to host the National Games successfully in Assam.The Chief Minister also informed that he would be leaving forNew Delhi on 15 May and in consultation with the party highcommand, the list of the new ministers would be finalized.Earlier, on 13 th May, the CLP unanimously elected Shri Tarun Gogoias its leader, paving the way for him to become the chief ministerfor the second consecutive term for the first time in the statesince 1972.The AICC observer Ms. Mohsina Kidwai chaired the CLP meetingthat was held in the presence of senior AICC leaders, Shri DigvijaySingh and Shri Chandan Bagchi.The senior-most Congress MLA and health minister, Dr. BhumidharBarman, proposed the name of Shri Gogoi as the CLP leader. Hewas seconded by the state rural development minister, Shri RipunBora. The proposal was also supported by Smt. JibantoraGhatowar.Congress is to form the government with the support of 12 MLAsof the Bodoland People’s Progressive Front (Hagrama), its ally.Sonia Gandhi Thanks VotersNew Delhi: Smt. Sonia Gandhi on 12 th May interacted withthe media at her residence and through the media thankedthe people of Rae Bareli for once again reposing trust in her.Smt. Gandhi gave credit of her victory to her son, Shri RahulGandhi and his team, who, she said, worked very hard.The Congress president said that it was a victory not just fordemocracy but also of values. Smt. Gandhi said that she washappy with the performance of the Congress as well as theUPA. But she was displeased with the Congress performancein Kerala and West Bengal.Smt. Gandhi said that in Assam Congress emerged as thelargest single party and will form the government there withlike-minded parties.To a question that former Chhattisgarh chief minister, Shri AjitJogi and 25 other MP’s had demanded that Smt. Sonia Gandhibecome the Prime Minister, Smt. Gandhi turned down thedemand as rubbish. “There should not be such talk in theparty,” Smt. Gandhi said. ❖The BPPF is led by the former leader of the disbanded BodoLibration Tiger (BLT) militant group.The AICC leader Shri Bagchi informed that apart from the BPPF(H), six other independent MLAs had extended unconditionalsupport to the Congress. Four of the independent MLAs attendedthe CLP meting at the Assam Assembly complex here.He said: “My government’s priorities will be to solve the Ulfainsurgency problem, to ensure the completion of fencing alongthe Indo-Bangla border in the state and to update the nationalregister of citizens (NRC) till March, 1971 to pave the way for thesolution of the vexed problem of illegal migration fromBangladesh.”Shri Gogoi said that the next government will continue thedevelopment work undertaken by the previous Congressgovernment in the state as the people of the state had votedCongress to power for the second consecutive term to ensuresocio-economic development. ❖8 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

CP’s SpeechCongress Committed to Uplift the PoorSonia GandhiKOLKATA: Taking on the CPI(M) in its bastion, the CongressPresident, on 20 April said the UPA Government at the Centrewas taking Left’s support to serve the people and develop thestates, including West Bengal.“The Congress-led UPA Government is taking outside supportfrom the Left – but it is not to remain in power – but to serve theinterest of the nation on the basis of Common MinimumProgramme,” she saidwhile addressing the firstof her three electionrallies in the state in afour-and-a-half hourcampaign programme.This was her first round ofelectioneering for thestate Assembly elections.Making development therefrain for her campaignat Baduria in NorthTwenty-Four Paraganas,Mahesh Tala in SouthTwenty-Four Paragnasand the Park CircusMaidan in the city, Smt.Gandhi said “the UPA Government was committed to poor’s upliftand had introduced a string of pro-people measures, includingthe National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.”“We have introduced the National Rural Employment GuaranteeScheme even in those states, including West Bengal, where thereis no Congress Government. The poor people of this state willalso be greatly benefited by it,” she said.Smt. Gandhi said the UPA Government under the leadership ofDr. Manmohan Singh had met every demand of the West Bengal,especially in education, power, rural and urban development.The UPA Government had also enacted a law to protect womenfrom domestic and social problems and for the first time set up aMinistry for minorities, she said.“On the contrary, the Left Front government in Bengal makesfalse promises before elections and forgets after it. But if theCongress is voted to power, there will be no lacking indevelopment and the state will regain its lost position in thecountry,” she said.Assailing the StateGovernment for takingthe state to 14 th positionfrom second, theCongress President saidmore than 65,000factories had beenclosed down and7,00,000 people thrownout of job, while the statewas bearing a Rs.90,000 crore debtburden.“West Bengal hadeverything before theLeft Front governmentcame to power. But nowwe feel sorry for the State. it is not the Bengal that the Congresswanted to build,” she said.Smt. Gandhi said it was a ‘pity’ that the poor and landless peopleTributeswere left in the lurch, tea garden workers were starving, incidentsof atrocity on women were increasing, there was a huge numberof school dropouts and no electricity in many villages.She also alleged that the state was not spending the Centralgrants for education. “It is a matter of regret that the state iscontinuously lagging behind the others. How long will the peoplewait?” she asked adding her party would fulfil all the promisesmade in the Common Minimum Programme. ❖Congress Sandesh, May, 2006 9

CP’s SpeechSonia Gandhi Urges Women to VoteYou have to play an important role in thedevelopment of society: Congress PresidentRAE BARELI: Congress president Smt. Sonia Gandhi on May 3urged women to turn out in large numbers for the May 8 RaeBareli by-elections and said being a woman herself she knewwhat all they had to do for their families.Addressing election meetings at Satawan, Saraini and Sadar, Smt.Gandhi said: “Being a woman, I consider emancipation of womenas my main objective. Women have to play an important role inthe development of society.”“Mein ek nani bhi hoon…(I am also a grandmother, therefore Iunderstand what all women have to do,” she said at Sadar whereover 3,000 women, besides other members of public hadgathered.Smt. Gandhi said she would try her best to ensure a bright futurefor the children of Rae Bareli. The AICC president reminded thepeople of the work she has done for the development of the areaand the number of employment generated through variousschemes.“I am fighting against the forces opposed to the Congressideology. They (Opposition) should know Sonia Gandhi cannot becowed down and will never surrender or retreat,” she told thegathering.Addressing an election rally at Saraini assembly segment here,Smt. Gandhi alleged the Mulayam Singh Yadav government wasnot using the central funds as “it thinks the central-aided projectswill give me undue political advantage.”Amethi MP, Shri Rahul Gandhi had also been making similarclaims during his campaign trail for his mother.Smt. Gandhi, who is seeking re-election to Lok Sabha from RaeBareli, claimed the SP regime was ignoring the interest of peopleto derive political mileage.“They do not believe in development, but in harming me,” sheclaimed, adding that the state government had recently refusedto accept a Rs. 265 crore central project for the Indira GandhiCanal in Rae Bareli. “This move will only create problems for thepeople,” she noted.The Congress chief, however, expressed hope that the stategovernment would work in tandem with the Centre for the overalldevelopment of common man.“I wonder whether Rae Bareli is a part of the UP,”she quipped.The Congress President, also slammed the opposition partiesfor raking up the issue of office of profit.“Since I have been working for people in an impartial manner, itis my duty to seek a fresh mandate after the opposition allegedthat I was holding office of profit.”Responding to Mr. Yadav’s election speech here on 2 nd May, Smt.Gandhi observed her ‘sanskar’ (culture) does not allow here toutter such language as being used by the opposition parties.The Congress chief later left for Satawan assembly segement toaddress another rally.Smt. Gandhi was slated to address as many as five electionmeetings in the constituency. She would address one meetingeach in the five assembly segments in Rae Bareli – Saraini,Satawan, Sadar, Dalmau and Bachrawan.On 28 th April, Smt. Gandhi had appointed daughter Priyanka Vadraas here election agent.While Rahul would look after campaigning, Priyanka would handlethe administrative part of the electioneering.The Congress chief had resigned her LS seat on March 23 overthe office of profit controversy.Besides, Centre-UP relations, the issue of women’sempowerement and their role in moulding future society alsoremained the focus of her address. The Congress president urgedthe women to turn out in large numbers.Reminding Rae Bareli of its long standing association with theNehru-Gandhi family, she said Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, IndiraGandhi always strived for the development of India as well asRae Bareli.“Being Prime Minister is not the only achievement, but to workfor the people and earn their respect is something to cherish,”she observed. ❖10 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

List of Successful CandidatesAssembly Election ResultsASSAMNo. & Name of Const. Candidate Name7 Katlicherra Gautam Roy8 Algapur Rahul Roy9 Silchar Smt. Bithika Dev10 Sonai Kutub Ahmed Mazumder12 Udharbond Ajit Singh (Bhola)13 Lakhipur Dinesh Prasad Goala16 Haflong (ST) Govinda Ch. Langthasa18 Howraghat (ST) Khor Sing Engti19 Diphu (ST) Bidya Singh Engleng20 Baithalangso (ST) Dr. Mansing Rongpi25 Golakganj Abu Taher Bepari34 Abhayapuri North Abdul Hai Nagori36 Dudhnai (ST) Debendra Daimary38 Goalpara West Md. Abdur Rashid Mandal42 Patacharkuchi Smt. Malaya Barman44 Jania Abdul Khaleque45 Baghbar Dildar Rezza51 Jalukbari Himanta Biswa Sarma52 Dispur Akon Bora53 Gauhati East Capt. Robin Bordoloi56 Kamalpur Smt. Uttara Kalita60 Barkhetry Dr. Bhumidhar Barman66 Sipajhar Binanda Saikia72 Barchalla Tanka Bahadur Rai76 Biswanath Md. Nurjamal Sarkar78 Gohpur Ripun Bora79 Jagiroad (SC) Bibekananda Dalai80 Marigaon Smt. Jonjonali Baruah81 Laharighat Dr. Nazrul Islam84 Batadroba Gautam Bora88 Samaguri Rockybul Hussain98 Jorhat Rana Goswami99 Majuli (ST) Rajiv Lochan Pegu100 Titabar Tarun Gogoi101 Mariani Rupjyoti Kurmi102 Teok Member Gogoi105 Mahmara Sarat Saikia106 Sonari Sarat Barkataky108 Sibsagar Pranab Gogoi109 Bihpuria Bhupen Kr. Borah111 Lakhimpur Ghana Burgohan112 Dhakuakhana (ST) Bharat Ch. Narah113 Dhemaji (ST) Smt. Sumitra Doley (Patir)115 Moran Smt. Jibantara Ghatowar117 Lahowal Prithivi Majhi120 Nahar Katia Smt. Pranati Phukan121 Chabua Raju Sahu122 Tinsukia Rajendra Prasad Singh123 Digboi Rameswar Dhanowar124 Margherita Pradyut Bordoloi125 Doom Dooma Durga Bhumij126 Sadiya Bolin ChetiaKerala6 Irikkur K.C. Joseph10 Cannanore K. Sudhakaran31 Wandoor (SC) A.P. Anil KumarNo. & Name of Const. Candidate Name50 Chittur K. Achuthan58 Trichur Therambil Ramakrishnan66 Nattika T.N. Prathapan70 Parur V.D. Satheesan72 Ernakulam Prof. K.V. Thomas75 Trippunithura K. Babu92 Puthupally Oommen Chandy100 Alleppey K.C. Venugopal103 Haripad B. Babu Prasad108 Chengannur P.C. Vishnunath109 Mavelikara M. Murali112 Pathanamthitta K. Sivadasan Nair113 Konni Adoor Prakash119 Adoor Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan127 Varkala Varkala Kahar131 Ariyanad G. Karthikeyan133 Kazhakuttam Adv. M.A. Wahid137 Nemom N. Sakthan138 Kovalam George MercierTamil Nadu23 Maduranthakam Dr. Gayatri Devi27 Sriperumbudur (SC) D. Yasodha28 Poonamallee D. Sudarsanam31 Pallipet Dr. E.S.S. Raman33 Sholinghur Arul Anbarasau42 Chengam (SC) Polur Varadhan46 Polur P.S. Vijay Kumar48 Vellore C. Gnanasekharan50 Cheyyar Dr. M.K. Vishu Prasad71 Rishivandiam Sivaraj S.74 Hosur K. Gopinath92 Attur M.R. Sundaram96 Namakkal (SC) Dr. K. Jayakumar110 Valparai (SC) Kovai Thangam117 Kangayam Vdiyal S. Sekar118 Modakurichi R.M. Palanisamy127 Ootacamund B. Gopalan150 Vedasandur M. Dhandapani156 Thottiam M. Rajesekharan162 Ariyalur D. Amaramoorthy171 Mayuram S. Rajkumar179 Pattukkottai N.R. Rangarajan189 Thirumayam R.M. Subbu Ram195 Karaikudi N. Sundaran196 Thiuvadanai K.R. Ramasamy200 Paramakudi (SC) K.V.R. Ramprabhu201 Ramanathapuram K. Hasan Ali215 Kadayanallur S. Peter Alphonse220 Cheranmahadevi P. Veldurai222 Nanguneri H. Vasanthakumar224 Sattangulam Smt. Rani Venkatesan226 Srivaikuntam D. Selvaraj230 Colachel S. Jayapaul234 Killiyoor John JacobWest Bengal6 Sitai Dr. Md. Fazle Haque20 Jalpaiguri Deba Prasad RoyCongress Sandesh, May, 2006 11

Assembly Election ResultsNo. & Name of Const. Candidate Name29 Goalpokhar Smt. Deepa Dasmunshi31 Raiganj (SC) Chitta Ranjan Ray41 Kharba Mahabubul Haque44 Araidanga Smt. Sabitri Mitra46 Englishbazar Krishendu Narayan Choudhary48 Suzapur Smt. Rubi Noor50 Farrakka Mainul Haque55 Lalgola Abu Hena61 Naoda Abu Taher Khan78 Shantipur Ajoy Dey114 Garden Reach Abdul Khaleque Molla145 Bow Bazaar Sudip Bandopadhyay147 Kabitirtha Ram Pyare Ram156 Sealdah Somendra Nath Mitra216 Sabang Dr. Manas Bhunia224 Kharagpur Town Gyansingh Sohanpal237 Jhalda Nepal Mahato280 Katwa Rabindranath Chatterjee292 Hansan (SC) Asit Kr. MalPondicherry11- Nettapakkam Shri V. Vaithilingam12- Kuruvinatham Shri R. Radhakrishnan13-Bahour- SCShri M. Kandasamy14- Thirubuvanai – SC Shri P. Angalan18- Ozhugarei Shri A. Namassivayam19 –Thattanchavady Shri N. Rangasamy21 –Lawspet Shri Mohf. Shahjahan27-Nedungadu –SC Shri A. Marimuthu28- Mahe Shri E. Valsaraj29-PalloorShri A.V. Sreedharan30-YanamShri Maladi Krishna RaoCongress Victorious in PondicherryPONDICHERRY: Congress Legislature Party leader NRangasamy will be sworn in as the 15 th Chief Minister of theUnion Territory on May 18.Shri Rangasamy who was elected CLP leader on 13 May left forNew Delhi along with the PCC president, Shri P. Shanmugham.Meanwhile, the Chief Minister designate prefers to head a coalitiongovernment and is trying to rope in the DMK.The allies – DMK, PMK and the CPI – handed over letters to theCongress pledging outside support to the ministry. The Congress,which has 10 MLAs in the 30-member Assembly, needed thesupport of six more to reach the majority mark.The DMK, PMK and the CPI, which contested the polls inalliance with the Congress, had won seven, three and oneseats respectively. Earlier in the day, the Congress MLAs methere and left the choice of the leader to Smt. Gandhi after aconsensus eluded them. AICC treasurer, Shri Motilal Vora,and leaders of allies met Lt. Governor MM Lakhera and handedover the letters. ❖Party PositionAssamTotal Seats 126Congress 52AGP 24BPPF (H) 12BJP 10AUDF 10CPI/CPM 3Independents 11NCP 1AGP (P) 1ASDC 1KeralaTotal Seats 140LDF 98CPM 61JD(S) 5Kerala Congress (Joseph) 4RSP 3Independents 4Others* 4UDF 42Congress 24Muslim League 7Kerala Congress Mani 7Others 4PondicherryTotal Seats 30DPA 20ADMK+ 7Others 3Tamil NaduTotal Seats 234Results declared 233DMK+ 163DMK 96Congress 34PMK 18CPM 9CPI 6AIADMK+ 68AIADMK 60MDMK 6DPI 2Others 2DMDK 1Independent 1West BengalTotal Seats 294CPI-M 176CPI 8All India Forward Bloc 23RSP 20Trinamool Congress 29Congress 21GNLF 3SUCI 2WBSP 4Independents 4JKP (Naren) 1RJD 1DSP (1) 112 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

PM’s SpeechIndo-German Cooperation Moves AheadHANNOVER: After softening Berlin’s stand on the India-USnuclear deal, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany too wantsto intensify cooperation in the field of energy, including energysecurity, with India.“We are running open doors with India including in the area ofenergy security and energy supplies. We want to build on thiscooperation,” Ms. Merkel saidat the India-German BusinessSummit which she addressedalong with Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh here. TheGerman Chancellor said Indiais a country with a GDP growthof over seven percent and “wetrust them.”Addressing India’s concernsover growing incidence ofprotectionism among the EUmembers. Ms. Merkel saidattempts on protectionism inEurope should be staved off.“Isolation is not right for anycountry,” she said.Earlier, Dr. Manmohan Singhand Ms. Merkel jointlyinaugurated the India Pavilionat the Hannover Messe (Fair),2006 in which India is thepartner country. Both Dr. Singh and Ms. Merkel walked arounddifferent stalls put up by Indian companies like TVS Group, andthe PSUs in the power sector.As many as 370 Indian companies are participating in the world’slargest trade fair, which began on April 23 with an impressiveofficial opening ceremony. A high beam laser show was combinedwith kathak dancers from India who were also joined by folk artistsplaying drums and dholaks to the audience that included thePrime Minister and the German Chancellor.In an address at the India-German Global Summit, Dr. Singh saidhis government would provide enabling environment for theGerman companies willing to increase investment in India. Hetalked about Indian companies going global. “Indian firms arebecoming globally competitive and we are witnessing the rise ofIndian multinationals, India has become a production base andan export hub for a range of products from agricultural goods tothe automobile components to high-end IT-enabled services,”the Prime Minister said.Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Hannover,GermanyIndia sought more Germaninvestments, particularly ininfrastructure,manufacturing and hitechnologysectors, even asBerlin asked India to shedprotectionism and open itsmarkets further. Seekingcloser economiccooperation, Dr. ManmohanSingh said: “Infrastructure,manufacturing and hitechnologysectors are thethree areas where India andGermany can enhancecooperation.”He assured full support toGerman companies andnoted that a lot of firms fromthe European nation werealready present in India andmany were expandingoperations.“I believe 65 per cent of German manufacturing companiesalready have a presence in India and another 30 percent plan tocome there. This is a good augury for expanded cooperationbetween us in future,” he told the gathering of top Germanbusiness leaders here. “… but we are looking at closer ties withthe small and medium enterprises,” the Prime Minister said.Speaking on the occasion, German Chancellor Angela Merkelasked the industry in her country to avail itself of the immenseopportunities in India, while asking India to open up its marketsfurther.“I request the Indian Government that any attempt towards...continued on Page 17Congress Sandesh, May, 2006 13

Civil ServicesPM for Reorienting Civil ServicesNEW DELHI: Acknowledging that civil servants continue to bethe ‘steel frame’ of the country, Prime Minister, Dr. ManmohanSingh appealed for reorienting the civil services and training it todeliver better services to the people.“You represent a national establishment with a nationalresponsibility. This gives you both power and responsibility. Italso gives you the opportunity to guide a political leadership thatis subject to the law of electoral change. Governments may comeand go, but the administration endures and must play its duerole,” he said.New ProceduresAddressing top bureaucrats on the first Civil Services Day onApril 21, Dr. Singh said the UPA Government had taken steps toensure the security of tenure and depoliticisation of appointmentsand transfers.“We have brought in new procedures for evaluation andpromotion. We have imparted greater transparency to theprocess. I hope these measures will restore to the All Indiaservices the prestige they were meant to enjoy and a sense ofpride in their professionalism.”Apart from their main role as administrators, civil servants alsofunctioned as specialists in different fields. Along with maturingof the nation, their roles had also been changing. The civilservices continued to be an important instrument for initiatingand managing change.“Much of this change has been in areas and activities that had astrong presence of the Government and its resources. Wheredevelopment was driven by Government, the civil servant hasbeen a key instrument along with the political leadership ininitiating and managing change and delivering services,” he said.Three Key ChallengesThe Prime Minister listed the three key challenges facing thenation: Ensuring and assuring equitable and sustainable growth;more open environment with demanding standards oftransparency and accountability; and Government to be a serviceprovider rather than a mere administrator.Dr. Singh posed a few questions. Are the civil services adequatelyequipped to address the emerging challenges? If not, what mustbe done? Is the present method of recruitment appropriate forinducting the right kind of persons? Areperformance assessments and appraisalmethods appropriate? How do we makethe civil services an attractive careerproposition for a talented young person?“There may not be immediate answersto these questions, but these questionsmust be addressed if the civil serviceshave to be reinvented to meet the needsof the future,” he told the bureaucrats. Union Cabinet SecretaryB.K. Chaturvedi and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister,T.K.A. Nair, were among those present.The Prime Minister listed a series of questions that had to beaddressed as follow:• Are the civil services adequately equipped to addressthe emerging challenges covering both security anddevelopment in a framework of financial stability andgreater accountability?• If not, what must we do to address these challengesmore effectively?• Is the present method of recruitment appropriate forinducting the right kind of persons into government?• Are the performance assessment and appraisal methodsappropriate for preparing our Civil Services for theemerging demands on them and the government?• How do we make the Civil Services an attractive careerproposition for a talented young person? ❖A reflection of good performanceGUWAHATI: Chief Minister Shri Tarun Gogoi described theemergence of the ruling Congress as the single largest partyin Assam as a reflection of the “good performance” of hisgovernment. The Congress won 53 of the 126 seats. The partyhad a strength of 71 in the outgoing Assembly.Shri Gogoi, who was re-elected from Titabor, said he wouldhave been happier had the party won a few more seats. Hepointed out that though the opposition sought to write himoff, the people rejected their bid. ❖14 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

DEVELOPMENT & GROWTHTwo Years of UPA GovernmentCover StoryDr Ravni ThakurTwo years is both a long and a short time in the life of anygovernment. It is that interim period that allows one to reflect onthe governments programmes, the way they have beenimplemented and to what extent the Government has been ableKasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalays asresidential schools for girls belonging todalit and tribal families. To promotegreater access for SC/ST’s in higherto respond to the needs of the people. The Congress Party education, a Rajiv Gandhi Scholarshipcame to power and formed a government with its allies based onthe Common Minimum Programme. This programme puts thefight against poverty and the concerns of the common man atScheme has been begun exclusively forSCs and STs at the M.Phil and Ph.Dlevels.the center of its governance agenda. The Congress Party as theThe governments commitment to end discrimination has alsoleader of the UPA government and the leadership of our Partyensured that more than 30,000 jobs were given to SCs and STsPresident, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has been at the forefront in ensuringin the Central Government by filling up vacancies in reservedthat the commitments made by the Congress Party in its electionposts. Along with this a new 15 point programme for minoritiesmanifesto and in our NCMP are fulfilled.is being prepared. The government is also planning to initiateAt this juncture, it is important for us to take a look at the majorachievements that the UPA government has made during the lasttwo years.legislation to give tribals land rights in forest areas so that theycan not only help in the management of forests but also to givethe security of a livelihood.Strengthening Social Sector DevelopmentOne of the main achievements of the UPA government has beenaugmenting resources and putting in place policies that addressthe issues of poverty alleviation, illiteracy and health for all,especially the rural poor. India is a country that still has 300million people living below the poverty line. The recent humandevelopment report published by the UNDP says that the maternalmortality rate that is in India is the worst in South Asia. These arenot statistics that can make any country proud, and especiallynot India that is now a rising economy. It is keeping the mostdeprived sections of our people in mind that Smt. Sonia Gandhiput in place the NREGS. This scheme has been implemented in200 of our most backward regions. And these are regions thatlie in non-Congress ruled states, proving once again that theCongress is a Party that cares for the people and their welfareover and above partisan politics. The Congress has also pushedfor increased rural credit for our farmers and is tackling the ruralcrisis of debt ridden farmers by strong outreach programmes tothem.The government has also emphasized the need to improve theprimary and health care systems, especially in rural areas. Fundsfor the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan have been doubled in the pasttwo years. Along with the the government has put in place aAnother major achievement of the UPA government has beenthe importance it has given to ameliorating the position of women.The Hindu Property laws have been revised to give women equalshare in the inheritance of property and the reservation of seatsfor women at the Panchayat levels have been assiduouslyimplemented. Tax laws favourable to women and genderbudgeting has also been implemented.In other words, the commitment of the Government to the socialneeds of the weaker sections of society remains high on itsagenda.The EconomyThe Economy is growing at a rate of 7-8 per cent these days andhas shown great robustness, despite increasing international oilplaces. While India’s service sector has greatly increased andIndia, now has a 70 per cent share in the booming BPO market,its manufacturing sector lags behind. The reason for this is thehuge infrastructure bottle necks that exist where our Ports, andother industrial needs are concerned. The government has severalschemes, including encouraging FDI to help our manufacturingsector to grow.In the area of Trade, several FTA’s have been signed by the UPAgovernment especially with countries in East Asia such asCongress Sandesh, May, 2006 15

Cover StoryThailand and Singapore. These FTA serve both a political and aneconomic relationship. For long, India neglected this region andas part of the pro-Soviet block, it disregarded trade as an avenueof growth. This has changed today. Today, India’s Look EastPolicy has given us new friends and new avenues of growth.One of the biggest achievements of course, has been the signingof SAFTA or the South Asian Free Trade Agreement. This is alandmark agreement and should help the Sub-continent use tradeas a mode of diplomacy. India has always sought peace on thesub-continent and trade can prove to be the track II cement thatwill help ameliorate ourrelationship with ourneighbours. SAFTA canbecome the wheel thattransforms oldanimosities and foster afruitful dialogue betweennations. Today ourIndustry is proud andable to compete with thebest in the world and ithas proved that it iscapable of sustaining andexpanding its role.Infrastructuredevelopment will enableour country much more and the Prime Minister has rightly focusedon this core issue.The UPA government is also keen to attract FDI into the countrybut not blindly. It sees the importance of FDI as lying in buildingassets and creating employment not in merely investing in thestock market. India has signed on to the new economic orderand must today ensure that its economy is in a position to competewith the rest of the world. It is here that the concept of private –public partnership. This is needed especially in our infrastructureprojects and in building up employment opportunities in themanufacturing sector. India, unlike China, is a rising economybecause of its own domestic market and increasing domesticsavings. Since economic reform India has also seen a risingmiddle class, with more people now enjoying the freedom ofchoice in terms of career and opportunity.Yet this must not make us complacent. The problems ofpopulation and poverty still loom large in India’s future. Ourfarmers are still killing themselves. We may see the demographicprofile of our country as a labour asset but it will not be so ifadequate education of good quality is not provided at the primaryand secondary levels. This should be accompanied by a strongvocational training sector that responds to the needs of a growingeconomy.Foreign AffairsIndia has also immeasurably improved its profile in theInternational arena. We have signed a landmark deal with USAthat will once and for all remove the technological embargo thatIndia has had to face inthe past. At the sametime, we continue to haveexcellent relations withRussia. Their providingIndia with fuel for ourTarapur plant is proof ofthis. Similarly, the Indo-China relationship hasgrown and trade betweenthe two countries ispoised to cross the 20billion dollars mark.The UPA government hasalso continued the peaceprocess forward with Pakistan and the bus services launchedbetween the two countries are indeed an encouraging sign.Solutions to the Kashmir problem are being sought continuouslyand the government is engaged in indepth dialogue with differentpolitical parties and groups in Kashmir.One of the chief thrusts of the UPA government has been theemphasis it has placed on our neighbourhood in East Asia. India’sLook East Policy has already yielded strong results and India isnow becoming more closely aligned with ASEAN wheremultilateral and global issues are concerned. The recent visitby the Saudi Arab King has also ushered in a new era in ourrelationship with this great country by signing the DelhiDeclaration. India is also committed to maintaining its traditionalstrong bilateral ties with Iran and hopes that the current nuclearstandoff with be solved through dialogue and discussion. Indiais a responsible nuclear power and continues to take a strongstand against nuclear proliferation at all levels.On the whole, the country is looking forward to an inclusivedevelopment and hopes to solve the problems that exist by16 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

Cover Storyensuring that the fruits of this continued economic growth areequitably shared. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s words, bestsum up an assessment of the UPA governments record over thepast two years:I must draw attention to the fact that the economy is onthe move. All our macro-economic indicators are robustand point to another year of over 7.0 per cent growth.Our Government is committed to an inclusice growthprocess and to the reform of governance in all itsdimensions. We are committed to unleashing the creativeenergy of our people and to making India an activeparticipant in the global economy. ❖...continued from page 13protectionism should be staved off, be it the European Union orother countries. This is the right path. We must face thechallenges of change,” she said.Ms. Merkel also sought closer cooperation in the field of scienceand technology. India and Germany were strategic partners andhad a common agenda, she said, adding that the two countriesshould interlink their capabilities, particularly in the area of energysecurity and energy supplies.Indian private carrier Kingfisher signed a $1-billion contract withEuropean aircraft manufacturer Airbus for five A-340-500airplanes, which the airline plans to use for its inter-nationaloperations.NEOMAN, the bus division of the $7.4-billion Euro MANNutzfahrzeuge Group, signed a Letter of Intent with Pune-basedForce Motors Ltd. to set up a joint venture for building chassis,buses and coaches for Indian and Asian markets. The IndiaRailways and its German counterpart Deutsche Bahn signed anMoU for enhancing cooperation in railways related technologyand developments.The areas of cooperation would cover modernization and servicingof rolling stock, signaling and telecommunications, maintenanceand servicing of rail lines, modernization of transport operations,technology for increasing speed of rail traffic and undertakingjoint research projects.Another agreement was reached between the Indian Council ofMedical Research and the Helmholtx Association of NationalResearch Centres for cooperation in the medicine sector. TheBureau of Indian Standards inked an MoU with the GermanInstitute for Standardization DIN for working towards commonstandards and certification.Later, during the Business Summit, India’s Commerce MinisterKamal Nath said India’s participation in the Hannover Fair as apartner country marked the renewal of strong relations withGermany.“The strongest endorsement of India’s emerging potential as thenext global manufacturing champion comes from the fact thattoday about 80 per cent of all German investors present in Indiaare manufacturing firms,” he said. Mr. Kamal Nath said thepotential areas of Indo-German cooperation includedtelecommunications, pharma, chemicals, environmentaltechnology, food processing and renewables. Small and mediumEntreprises of India and Germany could also cooperate in autocomponents, machine, toys and pharma, the Minister said.Germany is one of India’s largest trade partners with two-wayengagement estimated at over $7 billion. Germany is the fourthlargest investor in India and more than 600 companies from theEuropean powerhouse operate in India.This meeting has been crucial for taking the Indo-Germanrelationship to the next step. India and Germany stress reformof the Security Council and have decided to promote their unitedfight for seats in this body. Both the Indian PM & the GermanChancellor reiterated their commitment to this issue. ❖Pondicherry Assembly Elections’06List of candidates selected by the CECPhase –1 (Nomination – 5 – 12 April, Poll – 3 rd May)No. & Name of Const. Candidate Selected28- Mahe Shri E. Valsaraj29-PalloorShri A.V. Sreedharan30-YanamShri Maladi Krishna RaoPhase-2 (Nomination 13 – 20 April, Poll – 8 th May)2- Cassidade Shri G. Ravichandrian11- Nettapakkam Shri V. Vaithilingam12- Kuruvinatham Shri R. Radhakrishnan13-Bahour- SCShri M. Kandasamy14- Thirubuvanai – SC Shri P. Angalan17- Villanur Shri C. Djeacoumar18- Oulgaret Shri A. Namassivayam19 –Thattanchavady Shri N. Rangasamy21 –Lawspet Shri Mohf. Shahjahan22- Kottucherry Shri P.R.N. Thirumurugan24-Karaikal SouthShri A.V. Subramanian26-ThirunallarShri R. Kamalakannan27-Nedungadu –SC Shri M. ChandrikasuCongress Sandesh, May, 2006 17

Jan Sampark AbhiyanU.P. Govt Refusing HelpRahul GandhiRAE BARELI: Amethi MP, Shri Rahul Gandhi on April 30 accusedthe Uttar Pradesh Government of neglecting development,the Congress president from the Lok Sabha seat over office of profitcontroversy. Making a fervent appeal to the electorate, especiallywomen, to ensure Smt. Gandhi’s victory, he reminded people to carrytheir identity cards on the polling day. Shri Rahul especially urgedwomen voters to support his mother at the hustings. ❖Mulayam Hampering DevelopmentNEW DELHI: Shri Rahul Gandhi said on April 25 in Rae Bareli,where he is the campaign manager for his mother’s re-electionbid, that he is ready to take charge and turn around fortunes ofthe Congress party in Uttar Pradesh, a state where it has declinedsteeply since 1989.apprehending it might help Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi,seeking re-election from here, gain mileage.“The State Government is ignoring the fact that development worksare undertaken for the welfare of people and not any individual,”Shri Rahul said while addressing several public meetings here.The fear of helping Smt. Gandhi gain political mileage was stoppingthe State Government from accepting Central funds for thedevelopment of Rae Bareli, the Amethi MP alleged.He claimed the Samajwadi Party-led regime had declined to acceptfunds under a Rs. 265-crore project approved by the Union Ministryof Water Resources.“The Mulayam Singh Yadav dispensation in UP refused help, sayingthe work would be financed with the Member of Parliament LocalArea Development (MPLAD) fund,” Shri Rahul claimed.Continuing his offensive against the Mulayam Singh YadavGovernment, he observed a parliamentarian received only Rs. twocrore as MPLAD funds and it was not possible to undertake a projectof such magnitude with that sum.Recalling the ‘seasoned’ bond of Nehru-Gandhi family with Rae Bareli,he said his grandmother and former prime minister late Indira Gandhihad also fought from the segment. Since April 25, Rahul Gandhi hasaddressed several public meetings in the high profile constituency.The Rae Bareli by-poll was necessitated following the resignation ofShri Rahul Gandhi attacked Mulayam Singh Yadav government,saying that it was not properly utilizing the help provided by theCongress-led UPA government at the Centre. “I am ready to takethe responsibility of (leading) the party in the state if the highcommand so asks. If the central leadership gives me theresponsibility, I can turn around the fortunes of the party in thestate,” Shri Gandhi said.Alleging that developmental work in the state was being hamperedin UP because of the Mulayam government’s attitude, Shri Gandhisaid that the Congress would do everything possible to ensuredevelopment of the state with the help of the Centre.Immediately after this statement, AICC general secretary, ShriAshok Gehlot, who is in-charge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh,said Shri Gandhi should immediately be appointed as the generalsecretary in-charge of party’s various frontal organizations, likethe Youth Congress, NSUI, Mahila Congress and Seva Dal, sothat the Congress could benefit in U.P. and rest of the country.Addressing a ‘Chaupal Sabha’ at Deenshahgaura here, Shri Rahulobserved that Rae Bareli had been a traditional stronghold of theGandhi family, where his family members had always kept theinterest of the people in mind.Interacting with media persons, he rubbished allegations levelledby Janata Party president, Shri Subramanian Swamy about hismother.“In the Rae Bareli by-poll, development is the only relevant issue,”he said, adding that Opposition leaders had been levellingallegations against Congress and Smt. Sonia Gandhi, which madeno difference. ❖18 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

Rae BareliNehru-Gandhi Link with Rae Bareli“Rae Bareli is the Karma Bhoomi of my family startingfrom Shri Feroze Gandhi, Indiraji,my husband and now myself”NEW DELHI: Rae Bareli has the distinction of being representedby three generations of Nehru-Gandhi family members. The place,which was described by Smt. Sonia Gandhi as the “Karma bhoomiof my family,” has played an important role in the destiny of India.Situated in Northern U.P, this rural town first attracted the attentionof Shri Feroze Gandhi. Itnurtured the politicalcareer of the Gandhi-Nehru family for over halfa century. The people ofRae Bareli, who placetheir trust and faith on theNehru-Gandhi family,have time and againreturned candidates fromthis family or from theCongress. It is their lovefor the people that hasattracted the Nehru-Gandhi family to mostlyfight for their cause and fight elections from Rae Bareli.Another unique factor about the people of Rae Bareli is that thepeople here behave in different manner whenever a person fromGandhi-Nehru family is contesting an election from here. For theCongress candidate the people’s vote percentage is larger incomparison to when no one from Nehru-Gandhi family is in the fray.Altogether 16 elections, including two bye-elections, have beenheld in Rae Bareli constituency so far and members of Gandhi-Nehru family and persons close to them have been elected 13times. When Smt. Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination, the stageis set for May 8 bye-elections. With this she is the third generationof the illustrious family to seek to represent this constituency.In the 1952 and 1957 general elections Feroze Gandhi won onCongress ticket. In the by-election held after Feroze Gandhi’sdeath in 1960, Congress candidate Rajendra Pratap Singhemerged winner. In the 1962 poll, Congress nominee Dinesh Singhwon the seat.Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi won the Rae Bareli seat thricein 1967, 1971 and 1980. In fact in 1980, she had won from twoseats Rae Bareli in UP and Medak in Andhra Pradesh. When shevacated the Rae Bareli seat, Congress nominee Arun Nehru waselected from here in a by-election in 1980.In the 1984 general elections, Arun Nehru was re-elected fromhere on a Congress ticket. Congress candidate Sheela Kaul wonthe seat in 1989 and1991. In the 1999elections, Captain SatishSharma of Congress wonthe seat.Smt. Sonia Gandhi wonthe seat in the 2004 LokSabha poll, defeating hernearest rival AshokKumar Singh of SP.Smt. Sonia Gandhi hasinitiated a good numberof projects and schemesin Rae Bareli chiefamongst them is revival of Indian Telephone Industry plant (GSMtechnology based cellular manufacturing facility) and they are inthe process of completion. With the cooperation of the localpeople, and despite all attempts by the Mulayam SinghGovernment to deprive this section, development in Rae Bareli,Smt. Gandhi has assured, would gain pace. Smt. Gandhi saidthat her by-election victory would certainly improve the prospectsof a beleaguered state. Things were already beginning to look upand the situation would certainly improve in Uttar Pradesh, Smt.Gandhi said.Shri Rahul Gandhi, if allowed by the party, will lead from thefront and has a dynamic personality and a great following,particularly of the youth. With developmental programmesin his mind, UP is surely going to see Congress back to itsoriginal glorious status in the state which sends the largestnumber of MPs to Lok Sabha. ❖- Sandesh CorrespondentCongress Sandesh, May, 2006 19

OpinionSonia Gandhi Leads by ExampleBhakta Charan DasWhen the Congress President resigned her Rae BareliParliamentary seat, political tongues and pens went wagging tointerpret her act. Was it defeatism or opportunism or a smartstrategic move to take the winds out of the Opposition? Yetanother theory went, Congress was wanting to score a point visà-visMulayam Singh Government on Jaya Bachan issue, andthen got caught in its own intrigue, so Soniaji had either to bendthe law in her favour or to resign to save the government fromembarrassment. No one,of course, acknowledgedthe fact that she hasmade yet anothersacrifice in public life.This is understandable inview of politics not beinga popular topic andpoliticians hardly drawany sympathy for theturmoil they have to gothrough. Althoughpolitics is supposed to be“king of policies”, it isuniversally derided: “I lovemy country, but not the government” is the common refrain. Nowonder, an international Institute in Stockholm, of which India isa member, is striving to make politics popular in public perceptionbecause the degree of cynicism does not augur well fordemocratic politics anywhere in the world.On the question of “Office of Profit”, the term was not definedclearly, like perhaps other conditions attached to holding aParliamentary seat. Around a fifth of the present members ofthe Lok Sabha and similar proportion of MLAs have criminalcharges pending against them. It is incredible that in democraticpolitics which is based on respect and preservation of politicaland social values, criminals without conviction enter theParliament. In such a situation, to blame Soniaji to react late isignorance of the recent examples of sacrifices she has set asthe leader of a century plus Party of a billion plus people.If Gods in any religion were subject to interpretation, Lord Ramawas seen to be anti-women, when he set high standards of politicsby making a huge sacrifice; Jesus Christ and his crucifixion hitthe headlines as researchers try to re-interpret faith and history.So, mere mortal politicians, however deeply committed they are,how they can be exempt from criticisms and interpretations. Weshould have no complaints as public is not privy to how bigdecisions are made. But what should bother us as Congressmenis that whether such acts of highest order of personal sacrificesshould disappear in to thin sands of public memory and discussionor we should be able to institutionalize such conduct in the Party.This is precisely the pointmade by a reputedjournalist who finelyarticulated that Smt.Sonia Gandhi’s sacrificesare seen as a kind ofwithdrawal andhelplessness, the Partydoes not follow herexamples or presents apicture commensuratewith her image. He raisedthe big question, how canher personal conduct ruboff on the Party toinstitutionalize as norms.One of the famous leadership gurus, John C. Maxwell in one ofhis essays, mentions one of the irrefutable laws of leadership,the “law of sacrifice”. He says John Riccardo in 1980s the CEOof one of the corporations in USA was willing to sacrifice himselffor the good of his company. He suggests from this example,“Leadership means setting an example. When you find yourselfin a position of leadership, people follow your every move.” TheCongress President has shown that “you must learn to give up”.She gave up the leadership of the government, very few havethe courage to give up power, and touched the hearts of themasses, and now she gave up her Parliamentary seat, and nodoubt, she will return with a bigger majority. So her sacrificesare not one-off, it is a part of her political as well as personalconviction that “principles come before politics”, it is up to theCongress Party and the Congressmen to emulate her act and setnew standards in our political lives. ❖(The author is an AICC Member & former Union Minister)20 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

ViewpointRahul Shows the WaySarvjit SinghWe are just some ten months away from facing assembly electionsin Uttar Pradesh, one of the most complex political terrains in thecountry. The State, once a stronghold of the Congress, hasincreasingly turned into a weak link in otherwise well-establishedpresence the party has elsewhere in the country.Imagine that just two decades ago – 1984 to be precise – theCongress party had won 83 of the then 85 Lok Sabha seats fromUttar Pradesh with 51 per cent vote share, the second highest interms of percentage points. The first elections of 1952 saw Congressbag 81 seats with a vote share of 53 per cent. The last Lok Sabhaelection where the Congress won 9 seats, the vote share was slightlyover 12 per cent.Now all this is not new. For years the party is in search of a formulathat can turn around the fortunes since 1989, the last time Congresshad its own Government in Uttar Pradesh. Attempts at tie-up/allianceshave in the past proved that the Congress invariably ends up losingits organizational structure to the allies with whom it shares the seatsand it is time the party puts on its thinking cap.The recent announcement by Rahul Gandhi that he was willing towork for strengthening the party in Uttar Pradesh provided the partyleadership asks him to take on the responsibility was greeted allround. It generated a lot of excitement and understandably so!There is a viewpoint that the young leader should take the plungestraightway. Having guided the party with his hands-on approach inthe Rae Bareli by-election, Mr. Gandhi must have gained leagues inexperience of poll management. If you take a close look at thestrategy, it was indeed fine. Having kept the senior leaders awayfrom campaign, he managed the show by actively engaging grassrootworkers of the area. This is indeed the right approach. He tappedthe latent energy of the party workers and activated them by showinga path they could walk on.Yet, is the time ripe for Rahul Gandhi to take upon himself thechallenge? No doubt there is a need to provide dynamic leadershipbut that could also be done by guiding and directing the party ratherthan assume direct leadership at this stage.The state of the party in Uttar Pradesh is well known. The edifice onwhich the party rode to power both in the State and the country is nolonger there. So, we really need to do a brick and mortar job byputting in place people who are committed to Congress ideologyand willing to work hard.The task would be onerous and positiveresults in terms of electoral gains will notbe there in immediate future. The mostimportant job is to identify a dedicated bandof young workers who are willing to takethe knocks and march on undeterred bythe hurdles that would crop up. It is herethat Rahul Gandhi’s association with theworkers in Uttar Pradesh for the past twoyears as also the latest experience would be beneficial.What is required is work at the grassroots so that people identify theparty with struggle. Unlike many who feel that Shri Gandhi shouldreplicate his Rae Bareli experiment in other parts of the State. I feelit would not produce the same results unless the structure is put inplace. The logistics support required for launching a political battlein UP that would yield good electoral benefit is simply not yet there.The Amethi MP is the Congress future and has a pan-Indian presence.His unique position should not be limited to just one State. The bestthing would be for him to do is to identify a select team for UP whoare willing to bend their backs and work under any leader the partyhigh command directs to lead the forces.There should be no ‘ifs and buts’. The deadwood should be weededout and replaced with those whose imagination can be fired not justto take on the political rivals specially the ruling alliance, whoseGovernment is far from performing.Given the tendency of party to simply, stand behind the leader insteadof actually doing groundwork needs to be checked. As Rahul Gandhihad said at Hyderabad, there is no greater work than being amidstthe people, whom you wish to represent; understand their aspirationsand see what one can do to help them translate them into reality.The essence of it is political struggle and rubbing shoulders withpeople who are suffering due to absence of governance.The effort would take time and results in the form of electoral gainscould take even longer time but the basic structure would be inplace. And if the party has to work its way around the complex castecombination political calculation that is currently at play, we wouldneed to identify issues that attract people, particularly the youth sothat they associate themselves with Rahul Gandhi and in turn theCongress party. There can be no short cut to success. ❖Congress Sandesh, May, 2006 21

HistoryRemembering Motilal NehruPraveen DavarThe 145th birth anniversary ofPt. Motilal Nehru fell on May 6, 2006The Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-21, the first of the threemajor mass movements of the freedom struggle, laid thefoundations of the disintegration of the mighty British Empire.However, Gandhiji’s call for non-cooperation had to be passedby the Congress for which a special session of the Party wascalled at Calcutta (September 1920). Lala Lajpat Rai, who hadjust returned from America, was elected as President of theCalcutta Congress. Not only the Lala but many veteran leaderslike Bepin Chandra Pal, Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya, C. R. Dasand M.A. Jinnah opposed the officialresolution of Non-Cooperation calling forsurrender of titles, boycott of school andcolleges, refusal to attend govt.functions, boycott of courts andlegislatures and burning of foreign cloth.Despite their opposition the officialresolution was carried by 1855 votes asagainst 873.Though Gandhiji had in a short periodof 2/3 years gathered around him younglieutenants like Jawaharlal Nehru,Sardar Patel, Rajaji and RajendraPrasad, the only senior leader to supportGandhiji at Calcutta was Pandit MotilalNehru. Historian B. R. Nanda records:‘he (Motilal) was the only front rankingleader to lend his support to Non-Cooperation at the special Congress atCalcutta in september 1920. Motilal’s fateful decision to cast inhis lot with Gandhiji was no doubt influenced by the tragic chainof events in 1919. Apart from the compulsion of events, therewas another vital factor without which he may not have made, inhis 60th year, a clean break with the past and plunged into theunknown. This was the unshakeable resolve of his son to go theway of satyagraha.’Pt. Motilal Nehru was born on May 6, 1861 at Agra where, in1961, the then Vice President, Dr. S. Radakrishnan inauguratingthe centenary celebrations of the great patriot foretells B. R.Nanda’s view point and adds. : ‘The credit for Motilal’s entry intopolitics goes to Gandhiji and Jawaharlal, apart from forces ofhistory. Though accustomed to a very comfortable life andregarded as a great admirer of westernstyle and manners, he subjected himselfto the discipline which Gandhi imposedon his followers. Spinning and weavingof khaddar had become obligatory forpolitical workers. Khaddar became thebond of sympathy between the politicalworkers and the millions of India. Motilalcast aside his foreign dress and put onkhaddar in Indian style and looked even more impressive andattractive in his new style. He hawked khaddar in the streets ofAllahabad. He joined the civil disobediencemovement and suffered periods ofimprisonment.’ Pt. Motilal Nehru, who hadrisen as an extremely successful andeminent lawyer in Allahabad High Courtgave up his lucrative profession thatearned him an income in five figuresbefore he reached the age of 40 (1901).The Non-Cooperation programme,adopted at Calcutta, was to be finallyratified at the annual session of the INCwhich met in Nagpur in December 1920.By this time, within three months, MotilalNehru had secured the support of C. R.Dass and Lala Lajpat Rai for Gandhiji’sprogramme. Even B. C. Pal and MadanMohan Malaviya were won over. ThePresident of the Nagpur session was the68 year old C. Vijay Raghavachariar,popularly known as ‘Lion of South India’. In December 1921, afew days before the Ahmedabad session, both Pt. Motilal Nehruand Jawaharlal were arrested and sentenced to six monthsimprisonment.Pt. Motilal Nehru was elected as Congress President twice – 1919(Amritsar) and 1928 (Calcutta). At Amritsar he spelt out his dreamof a free India : ‘We must aim at an India where all arefree and have the fullest opportunities of development;where women have ceased to be in bondage, and therigours of the caste system have disappeared; wherethere are no privileged classes or communities; whereeducation is free and open to all; where the capitalistand the landlord do not oppress the labour and the22 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

Historyriot; where labour is respected and well-paid, andpoverty, the nightmare of the present generation, is athing of the past.’According to Dr. Radhakrishnan two things stand out in MotilalNehru’s political activities : ‘He was a great organiser, a greatparliamentarian and as the leader of the Swaraj Party in theCentral Assembly, he set standards which we are striving tofollow.’ The Swaraj Party was founded by Pt. Motilal Nehru andC. R. Das in January 1923, within the Congress, to extend Non-Cooperation within the Councils. Despite reservation in thebegining Gandhiji blessed the ‘Council entry’ programme of theSwaraj Party which received a great setback with the death of C.R. Das in 1926.The Nehru Report which prepared the framework of theConstitution of a free India and provide a solution to the communalproblem, was another glorious chapter in the contribution of Pt.Motilal Nehru to the making of modern India. Writes K. M.Panikkar, noted historian : ‘The constructive approach of Motilalto politics is best brought out in the circumstances which led tothe Allahabad All Parties Conference and the formulation of theNehru Report. A leader of non-cooperation movement who hadgiven up his legal practice, courted arrest, and sacrificed wealthand position, he was, at the same time, a statesman who realisedthat India must produce a solution to her problems if Swaraj is tohave any meaning. The Nehru Report was the first serious effortof India to put forward an agreed constitution.’ Though MotilalNehru was a brilliant civil lawyer he rose as one of the country’smost distinguished constitutional experts.Before he passed away, on Feb. 6, 1931, Pt. Motilal Nehru, after hislast stint in jail (Naini) the previous year, made another sacrifice: hegifted his palatial house to the Nation. This is best recalled in thefamous words of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi : “Sometime in1926, Mahatma Gandhi had a conference with my father andgrandfather, which was to affect the future of the house. As Gandhijihimself afterwards related the story : ‘The elder Pandit had overheardJawaharlal remarking that Anand Bhavan would belong to the nationwhen it came into his hands. So Motilal said to himself : why wait?And as a fitting prelude to the great struggle on which the nationwas embarking he took the decision to make a gift of his residence,Anand Bhavan which was to remain the headquarter of the INC untilthe office moved to Delhi in 1946. He built a much smaller house inthe compund of the old and gave it the name of the old, AnandBhavan. We moved into the house in 1928. The proposal howeveractually took effect on the 6th April 1930 (End of Dandi March).”Pt. Motilal Nehru’s death, at the age of 70, was deeply mournedby the whole nation. Dr. Rajendra Prasad (later the first Presidentof India) said : ‘Till the last moment he sacrificed his all for theservice of his country. He dedicated himself, his wealth and, whatis more, his precious son - Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru – to theservice of the nation.’ The Hindustan Times editorialised : “PanditMotilal possessed the courage of a lion, the daring of a soldier,the will for suffering of a martyr, intelligence of a statesman, andthe heart of a prince.” ❖(The author is Secretary, AICC)BJP’s Double-Speak overTelenganaAICC general secretary incharge of Andhra Pradesh, ShriDigvijay Singh in a press release on 20 April expressed surpriseover the change in the stance of BJP over separate Telengana.He said, “it is surprising to note that the BJP is now supportingthe demand for a separate State of Telengana. The last electionthat they contested alongwith TDP they did not even mentionabout Telengana. This issue was also not part of their electionmanifesto.The BJP did however promise the creation of a separateTelengana state in their election manifesto during the 1998Parliamentary election. But in spite of that and being in powerin Government of India, they did not keep up their promise.The BJP is known for its double speak and politicalopportunism. Now that BJP is issueless and friendless inAndhra Pradesh, they want to exploit the sentiments of thepeople of Telengana region.On the other hand, the Congress Party has always beenconsistent on its stand of the socio-economic development ofTelengana region. We had mentioned about it in our electionmanifesto also. The process of consultation and arriving at aconsensus among UPA partners is already on and a decisionwill be taken once Shri Pranab Mukherjee Report is submittedto the UPA.Shri Advani and the BJP should not unnecessarily exploit thesentiments of the people of Telengana region whom they haveignored throughout during their association with TDP. ❖Pranab quits as PCC chiefNew Delhi: Union Defence minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjeeresigned as the West Bengal PCC president, taking moralresponsibility of the party’s poor performance in the assemblyelections in West Bengal.Congress Sandesh, May, 2006 23

ViewpointGlobalisation with a Human FaceRejaul Karim LashkarAfter the fiasco in the Fifth Ministerial Meet of the WTO held in Cancun,Mexico on September 9 – 14, 2003, it is apt to have a look at thebenefits the process of globalisation represented by the WTO confersupon mankind as well as the adverse effects of it and to see whetherwe can retain the benefits even while mitigating the adverse effects.The undeniable fact of geographically uneven distribution of resourcesas well as differences in people’s aptitudes and capacities pointstowards the benefit of economic integration. This is the primaryreason why the forces of capitalism born out of the industrialrevolution acted against the feudalistic barriers to trade present atthat time and brought about national level economic integration whichsubsequently caused political integration and brought into existencethe nation-states. The technological standard of the post-industrialrevolution was of such a level for which national level market wasoptimum. (The technological standard of the pre-industrial revolutionera being of a such a level for which local level market was optimum.)As the technology improves with consequent improvement anddecrease in the cost of transportation and communication methods,the optimal geographic area of market for trade and commerce israised and the impersonal forces of capitalism try to attain andultimately succeed in attaining that larger market. At the presentlevel of the transportation and communication technology, the optimallevel for market is definitely the whole globe (that is why at presentthe forces of capitalism are acting against the nationalistic barriersto trade and commerce and forcing economic reforms in the directionof creating a global common market) and hence the process ofglobalisation will definitely increase the overall prosperity in the world.But while the economic integration and division of labour increasethe overall aggregate prosperity, it does not necessarily increase theprosperity or welfare of all the sections of the people. Unevendevelopment in terms of geographical regions as well as socialclasses is a characteristic feature of economic integration (the samething has happened earlier also during national level economicintegration after the industrial revolution to mitigate which socialwelfare measures had to be taken subsequently in almost all of thesenation-states). And while the present process of globalisation isproviding economic sections of the population are not getting dueshare of this benefit. Even in countries where the GDP is increasingrapidly due to liberalization and globalisation, the increment in GDPis mainly cornered by the well-off portion of the population. Theweaker section has only been more marginalized. This is not onlydue to liberalization of labour laws and the closing down of the localcompanies due to foreign competition which has rendered theindustrial workers (especially the unskilled workers) increasinglyinsecure. But also some of the affirmative actions, such as reservationin government job for the weaker sections, are being rendered illusorydue to the ‘downsizing’ of the government sector. The gradualwithdrawal of subsidies on farm inputs has rendered the farmersvulnerable. The apologists of liberalization hail these as necessaryfor increasing the efficiency of the economy. But mere increase inefficiency or aggregate wealth of the nation is of no avail if all sectionsof the population do not benefit by it. The Benthamite utilitarianprinciple of judging a public policy only by its effects on the averagehappiness has been rejected by even modern liberals who are nowincreasingly realizing the importance of judging public policies bytheir effect, at least among other things, on the well-being of theleast advantaged. This is not only the core of the philosophies of thegreatest liberal philosophers of modern times like Laski and JohnRawls; it is also in accord with the Gandhian concept of Sarvodaya.The well-being of the weaker sections cannot be and should not besacrificed at the altar of an abstract concept of ‘general interest’calculated by taking the average of individual interests. Theaffirmative and social welfare measures like stringent labour laws,reservation for weaker sections in jobs or even state help for farmers,etc., were conceived by the Founding Fathers of our Constitution notin the interest of ‘efficiency’ but something more important and morehumane, namely, social justice.Taking care of the interests of the poor and the downtrodden is notonly imperative on the grounds of ethics or humanism. It is necessaryon pragmatic account also because a society cannot remain stableand peaceful for long time while depriving any section from its due.The growing impoverishment of the poor may bring about seriousdisturbance in society in the long run; which may eventually jeopardizethe whole process of liberalization and globalisation. And since theglobalisation process is economically beneficent, a roll back of thisprocess is not desirable. Rather what is required is to ensure thatthe benefit of the globalisation process is shared by all sections ofthe people. Rather what is required is to ensure that the benefit ofthe globalisation process is shared by all sections of the people. Forthis purpose, some international effort should be made to evolve amechanism, under the WTO or the UN, to mitigate some of the harsh24 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

Viewpointeffects of the globalisation process and to provide succour to theaffected people. Some kind of a global fund for providing socialsecurity to the vulnerable workers and aid to the needy should becreated, if necessary by taxing the international traders and financecapitalists who are the main beneficiaries of the globalisation process.This is not only because it is their moral obligation to help those whoare adversely affected by a process by which they themselves arebenefiting, but more importantly because it is also in their interestsince in this way they might make it possible for the globalisationprocess to carry on without causing any social unrest against it. It iswell-known that one such mechanism for creating a global fund tofight poverty by imposing tax on international investment (known asTobin Tax) has been widely acclaimed by the global civil society. Butit is being opposed tooth and nail by the reactionary proponents ofreckless capitalism. But, reckless capitalism, without any regard forhuman welfare, is neither acceptable nor feasible in the long run. Ifthe WTO is to continue successfully it cannot ignore this cardinaltruth. It has to give due importance to the concerns of the civilsociety about the adverse effects of globalisation on the weakersections of the people. And, it is heartening to see that the WTO haswoken up, even if belatedly, to the necessity of paying heed to thevoice of the civil society. Probably this is the reason why it hasinvited some of the leading NGOs to form a ‘WTO NGO AdvisoryCommittee’. It is necessary to ensure that this ‘WTO NGO AdvisoryCommittee’ becomes the true representative of the global civil societyand that this committee be given an important role in tradenegotiations. For this, if necessary, the WTO should be restructured.The task, of course, will take a long time to be accomplished. But astart should at least be made now.The globalisation process has immense potential to be beneficial forall sections of mankind. What is needed is only an honest effort bythe powers that be to realize this potential. ❖Sonia Gandhi Greets KoiralaNEW DELHI: The Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi,congratulated the newly appointed Prime Minister of Nepal, ShriG.P. Koirala. In a letter to Shri Koirala on 26 April, Smt. Gandhi said:“I have been following with keen interest the momentousdevelopments in Nepal during the last few days which have ledto the restoration of multi-party democracy and handing over ofpolitical power to the representatives of the people of Nepal.I have also heard the news about the decision of the Seven PartyAlliance to nominate you as their leader and the Prime Ministerof Nepal. Please accept my heartiest congratulations, I wouldlike to wish you all success as you assume the high responsibility.On behalf of the Indian National Congress, I would like to assureyou, and through you the people of Nepal, of our full support inthe task of consolidating the victory of the people of Nepal andaddressing the economic challenges that face them.I am confident that with your vast experience and wise and ableleadership the new government will meet with success in facingthese challenges. You have our very best wishes.” ❖Condolence MessageThe Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, on 20 April expressedher sadness over the bus accident in Assam in which a largenumber of persons lost their lives.“I am sure the State Government is providing all possible help tothe families of those who have lost their dear ones and also allmedical facilities to those injured in this tragedy.I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.May the families who have lost their dear ones have the strengthto bear the irreparable loss and for the early recovery of theinjured.” ❖AICC general secretary, Shri Ashok Gehlot, incharge, Uttar Pradesh addressingParty Workers meeting in Mathura on 9th May.Special invitee to Congress Working Committee Shri Anil Shastri, UPCC president,Shri Salman Khurshid with other Congressmen participating in the ‘Jan Viswas’rally which started from historic Anand Bhawan in UP.Congress Sandesh, May, 2006 25

ObituaryGhani Khan Choudhary Passes AwayKOLKATA: Veteran Congress Leader and former Railway Minister,Shri A.B.A. Ghani Khan Choudhary died at a city nursing homeon 14 April after a protracted illness.consecutive times from 1980.Not that he had a free run of the elections. At least on oneoccasion, he came close to a shock defeat at the hands of hisMarxist rival. The political reality showed that even Malda waschanging, but the myth of Barkatda endured beyond the electoraldetails.He loved Malda and was loved by the people there. And, hemade no secret of using his political stature and the resourcesat his command for Malda’s benefit. Whether as the irrigationminister in Siddhartha Shankar Ray’s cabinet or as Union ministerfor coal and then railways, he would do anything and everythingto try and get projects to be located in and around Malda.The metro in Calcutta may not have been entirely his idea, but,as railway minister, he not only gave it the first push but alsodealt firmly with a skeptical bureaucracy in order to get funds forthe project. Shri Chaudhary was perhaps the most loved Delhileader of Bengal of recent times. ❖A bachelor, Shri Choudhary (79) is survived by his brother and asister. Both of them are Congress legislators in the state Assemblyfrom Malda district.Born on November 1, 1927, the Congress MP from Malda wasadmitted to a private nursing home here on April 3 after he wasflown in from his home town in north Bengal following acuteabdominal pain and respiratory problem. He was put on ventilatorsince then and the end came on 14 April morning following“multiple organ failure.”Information and Broadcasting minister, Shri Priya RanjanDasmunsi, rushed to the nursing home on hearing the news ofShri Choudhary’s death.The Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi flew in from NewDelhi to pay her last respects by placing a wreath at his bodyplaced at the Congress Party headquarters here.MAN OF THE MASSESBarkatda, as he was known to his people in Malda and hispartymen everywhere else, struck his own kind of balancebetween the old world and the demands of mass politics. Nowonder he was elected to Lok Sabha from Malda eightEconomic package for KhodaGHAZIABAD (U.P): Biggest Panchayat of Ghaziabad – HapurParliamentary constituency Khoda – Makanpur colony will get10 crore rupees from Central Government for its development.The amount was sanctioned due to efforts of Shri SurendraPrakash Goel, in addition to it, Shri Goel himself has donatedRs. 5 crore from his own development fund for providingelectric poles, wires, kharanza (brick road) and drainage.This was announced at a public meeting on March 19organised in Khoda Colony. He also assured to continue hisefforts for the development of the colony and claimed that noprevious M.P did as much as he has donated for the colony.The programme was organized by Khoda Makanpur RegionalCongress Committee. Shri Rajesh Gupta, President of theCommittee, conducted the programme. It was presided overby Ram Naresh Sinha. Ghaziabad Mahanagar Youth CongressPresident Sardar Indrajeet Singh Titoo, Bihar AssociationPresident Jeetendra Sharma, Uttrakhand Vikash ParishadPresident Pan Singh Rawat, Amin Ansari, Sitaram Tyagi, AmanSharma, Baldev Singh Pawar, Rajesh Tyagi, Shankar Thakur,Shyam Nath Mehta and others also expressed their views. ❖26 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

JHARKHANDBalidan DiwasGIRIDIH: The Congressmen of Giridihcelebrated the day Smt. Sonia Gandhiresigned from the membership of the LokSabha and chairmanship of NationalAdvisory Council as ‘Balidan Diwas’. Onthe occasion a meeting was organized atthe Congress Bhawan and laterCongressmen took out a rally in the city.District Congress Committee president, Dr.Pradhuman Kumar Singh, while presidingover the meeting, said that Smt. Gandhiresigned from Parliament and NAC to setup high standard of ethics in political lifeand democracy. Earlier too she hadrenunciated the prime minister’s post.Shri Singh said that the Amendment Billpassed by the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabhawas against all norms in a democracy. TheNDA has brought about this amendmentjust to save its MLAs who are also holdingthe office of profit. The Congressmencondemned this act by the NDA, Shri Singhsaid. Others who spoke included ShriTajuddin Ansari, Shri Ravindra PrasadSingh, Shri Satish Kadia and Shri SabbanKhan.Blood Donation CampJAMSHEDPUR: On the foundation day ofthe National Students’ Union of India(NSUI) on 9 th April, a blood-donation campwas organized at the local cooperativecollege here. The camp was inauguratedby Jharkhand Pradesh Delhi Committeegeneral secretary, Shri Rajesh KumarShukla.On the occasion, Shri Shukla asked thestudents to expand the mass base andvote bank of the Delhi party so that itstrengthens the hands of Delhi President,Smt. Sonia Gandhi. Others who spokeincluded PCC secretary, Shri Bharat Singh,NSUI members Shri Parvinder Singh andShabana Parveen.DELHIBack in CongressNEW DELHI: The Congress President hason 15 April approved the re-admission ofthe following four persons into the partywith immediate effect, according to AICCgeneral secretary, Shri Janardan Dwivedi:1. Dr. Karthikeshwar Patra, ex-MP - Orissa2. Smt. Uma Rani Patra, ex-MLA - Orissa3. Shri Debi Chand - Orissa4. Shri Karate R. Thiagarajan - TamilNadu35-lakh Rural HouseholdsProvided JobsNEW DELHI: More than 35 lakh ruralhouseholds have been providedemployment during the first two monthsof the National Rural EmploymentGuarantee (NREG) Programme, accordingto Union Rural Development Minister,Raghuvansh Prasad Singh here on 19April.According to reports reaching the Ministryfrom 182 of the 200 districts where theNREG Act is being implemented, 2.28crore applications had been issued. Itenvisages legal guarantee for providing atleast 100 days of wage employment in ayear for the absolutely poor people.NSUI Foundation DayNEW DELHI: The National Students Unionof India (NSUI) celebrated the foundationday throughout the country on 9 April. Ata function held at the Central office here,AICC General Secretary, Shri Mukul Wasnikwas the chief guest.The programme was presided over byNSUI national president, Shri NadeemJaved while Shri Wasnik inaugurated thefunction by hoisting the NSUI flag andlighting the lamp.The day coincided with the Pulse Poliocampaign and the NSUI studentsStates Watchparticipated in this programme.The NSUI was established on 9 th April,1971 by the then Prime Minister, Smt.Indira Gandhi. Chhatra Parishad (StudentsCouncil) was already in place in WestBengal since 1953 and Kerala StudentsUnion in Kerala. Though both these unionshave retained their names, they areassociated with the NSUI.Addressing the gathering, Shri Wasnik saidthat for a strong and secure party and thenation, “we will have to make NSUI morestrong and independent. Shri Wasnik saidthat it is the duty of the NSUI to fight antinationalforces and social and economicimbalances.National organization chief, Shri Javed saidthat NSUI is the primary class in politicaldemocracy. He said that the way NSUI hasbeen winning in various students unionelections throughout India, indicates thatNSUI is moving ahead in the right directionand towards its assigned goal.HARYANAJudicial Panches in PanchayatsUrgedNEW Delhi: Shri Khazan Singh,President, Rajiv Gandhi PanchParmeshwar Mahashakti Sangathansuggested the institution of PanchaParmeshwar legal system alongwithPanchayat System to reduce pressure ofmounting legal cases on higher courts.In a statement issued in New Delhi, Mr.Khazan Singh said, “it should be made thesecond wing of the Panchayati Raj andCongress Sandesh, May, 2006 27

States Watchpurely justice delivery system at grassrootlevel independent of gram panchayat ornagar palika.” The chief judicial panchshould be elected from district BarAssociations of the country and other ofthe eleven panch panel should be takenfrom different professions.JAMMU & KASHMIRBig Win for AzadSRINAGAR: The Jammu and KashmirChief Minister, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azadmade a maiden entry into the Assemblyas the Congress and Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) shared honours with the mainOpposition, the National Conference andan Independent candidate in the byeelectionsheld in four Assembly segmentson April 24.Shri Azad won the Bhaderwah Assemblybye-election with over 58,000 votesagainst his nearest BJP rival DhanatarSingh. The Congress and PDP will retaintheir strength – 20 and 17 respectively –in the House while the NC has 24 seats.UTTARANCHALVir Chand rememberedDEHRADUN: The city CongressCommittee workers, led by its president,Shri Lalchand Sharma took out a padyatrahere on 23 rd April to commemorate the 76anniversary of freedom fighter Shri VirChand Singh Gharwali’s Peshawarepisode.Shri Vir Chand was leading a company ofGharwali soldiers under the British Armyin Peshawar. He was asked to fire uponthe activists who were agitating during thefreedom struggle, but Shri Vir Chandrefused to obey the orders because he didnot want his soldiers to fire upon unarmed,innocent people. For his disobedience ShriVir Chand was awarded life imprisonmentand his soldiers rigorous punishment. Thisact not only disturbed the Britishers butalso aroused in the people the love for thecountry and gave more impetus to thefreedom movement.Participating in the rally included Dr. JayaShukla, secretary, All India MahilaCongress, Councillor Ashok Verma, ShyamSunder Sharma, Anil Negi, JitenderChauhan, Jeeshan Ali, Vipul Nautiyal,Madhu Sharma Kalawati Joshi and otherlocal leaders and large number of workers.CHATTISGARHMarch by NSUI StudentsRAIPUR: The students of the NationalStudents Union of India (NSUI) took out amarch through the city here on 30 Marchin support of the resignation of Smt. SoniaGandhi from Lok Sabha and the NationalAdvisory Council. The march started fromAzad Chowk and ended at Gandhi Chowknear Rajiv Gandhi’s statue. The studentsheld placards which read: Sonia Gandhi,your sacrifice will not be forgotten. Themarch was led by NSUI state president,Shri Vikas Upadhyay. Meanwhile, in aweek-long campaign in Smt. SoniaGandhi’s support, it was the opinion ofmajority of the people that Smt. Gandhihas done a right thing and that she is asymbol of sacrifice.Those who participated included RaipurRural Congress Committee president, ShriPankaj Mishra, City Congress president,Shri Amit Sharma, Education Departmenthead, Shri Lokesh Singh with large numberof NSUI students.RAJASTHANBJP’s Partisan PoliticsCHOUMU (Rajasthan): Former ChoumuBlock Congress Committee president, ShriSanker Lal Chaturvedi strongly objectedto partisan politics being played by the BJPgovernment of Rajasthan.The Rajasthan government is trying toerase the memories of late Prime Minister,Shri Rajiv Gandhi by renaming theeducation scheme launched by him. RajivGandhi schools were opened during theCongress rule in the state to educate therural children.Shri Chaturvedi said that these efforts bythe Rajasthan government were not onlyunfortunate but also undemocratic. TheCongressmen, objecting to this partisanpolitics, handed a memorandum,addressed to the Governor. The delegation,which handed over the memorandum,included Shri Shankar Lal Chaturvedi, CityCongress president, Shri MurlidharGathwal, NSUI City president, Shri VikramSingh Jodha with office-bearers of frontalorganizations.28 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

ReportMahila CongressA large volume of the Mahila Congressactivities in April constituted of electionrelated activities. AIMC office bearers wereappointed for coordinating electioneeringwork by the Mahilas in the five states goingfor Vidhan Sabha elections. Mrs. ManjuHembrum was sent to Bengal and the tribalareas of Assam, Dr. Jaya Shukla to Bengal,Mrs Vijaylakshmi Sahu to Assam and Mrs.Kamalaxi Sarma was sent to Tamilnaduand Pondicherry. The Mahilas in all fivestates worked tirelessly and effectively forthe purpose. Mrs. Indu Pawar was sent toBadarwaha from where Sri Ghulam NabiAzad was constesting. There were Blockelections in Mau (UP), where 3 Congresswomengot elected at Ratanpura asPramukh, Jyeshtha and Pramukh and Up-Pramukh.The Madhya Pradesh PMC opposed theAdvani Yatra by demonstrating black flagsall through its routine the state. On the 25 thin Jabalpur, more than 500 womendemonstrated, while a larger numberdemonstrated at Bhopal on the 27 th . TheMP PMC’s organizational meeting attendedby state and DMC level office bearers wasaddressed by state-incharge Dr. ShobhanaShah on the 25 th and 26 th .The UttaranchalPMC organized aState-level 2-daypolitical trainingcamp at Haridwaron the 8 th and 9 th .More than 2,000women attendedfrom the wholestate, in thecompany of theAIMC President Dr.Rita BahugunaJoshi. Chief guest was Shri Motilal Vora,with other honoured guests including Maj.Ved Prakash, Shri Anil Shastri, Shri HarishRawat, Mrs. Indira Hridayesh, ShriVijay Bahuguna, BrahmchariBrahmaswaroopananda, Shri G.S. Kunjwal,etc. who alsoaddressed theMahilas. “Roulak”workers explainedabout womenrelated laws. Dr.Jaya Shukla andDr. Shobhana Shahalso attended.Nine politicalresolutions wereadopted.The AndhraPradesh PMC organized on the 21 st , aPanchayati Raj Sabha at Hyderabad,attended by 25,000 women. AIMCPresisdent Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi wasChief Guest. Other honoured guestsincluded Mrs. Panabakka Laxmi, Major VedPrakash, C.M. Sri Rajashekhar Reddy,AIMC state-incharge Mrs. Kamalaxi Sarmaalso attended.The Banda Mahila Congress participatedin the Congress procession and Dharna atthe Court compound on the 3 rd , against thedeteriorating law and order situation,crimes against women, electricityshortage, non-issuing of ration cards tothose below BPL, and misrule by theMulayam government. A memorandum forthe Governor was handed to the citymagistrate. The case of suicide by a youthRaju due to severe beatings by the policein lock up, was taken up. in Pithauragarh(Uttaranchal), the liquor mafia hadgangraped at night one of the leaders ofthe women’s movement against alcohol.Mahilas had protested with massivedemonstrations. Demanding arrest ofsome of the culprits still absconding,demonstrations and protests arecontinuing.Homage was paid to Veer ChandrasinghGarhwali on the anniversary of Peshawarepisode on the 23 rd at Dehradun by aprocession by all wings of the party, fromPathariapir to Gandhi Park. Dr. Jaya Shuklaattended. It was decided to oppose SriAdvani’s Yatra, and to create awarenessagainst it.The AIMC President Dr. Rita Joshiaddressed a meeting at Kuwait on the 28 th .Dr. Jaya ShuklaCongress Sandesh, May, 2006 29

DiaryAICCVOTE BANK POLITICS05.04.2006: Smt. Jayanti Natarajanaddressed the media.Smt. Jayanti Natarayan said that the socallednational security yatra which startstomorrow by the Leader of the Opposition,Shri Advani and the president of the BJP,Shri Rajnath Singh is little more than a flopyatra. A yatra trying to take that further intheir fruitless and failed quest for votebank politics. A flop yatra, flawed inconcept, flawed in design and doomed tofail in execution. The ordinary citizen feelsthat BJP has chosen to highlight with thisyatra their internal conflicts and as ShriAdvani and Shri Rajnath Singh drive theiryatra in different directions, the BJP isbeing torn apart and the Opposition in thecountry is being wrenched apart by its owninternal conflicts. We feel sorry that thisis the fate of the main Opposition party inthe country today. We stand on theopposite end of polity. We have no sharedvision and our goal is to rid the country ofthe brand of fundamentalist politics andof communalizing society that is practicedby the BJP in order to gain narrow,electoral and political advantage. And intheir stint of being in power at the CentralGovernment, they have done their best todivide, destroy and communalise oursecular fabric, our domestic polity at everylevel. The BJP certainly has no locusstandi to talk about communalizinganything because they are the first culpritswho have communalized or try tocommunalise the entire society. It is thealert Indian electorate that has rejectedtheir brand of politics and sent them outof power to vanavas (exile) today.INSULTINGSmt. Natarajan saidthat we are shockedand pained andview very seriously the comment made byShri Advani comparing the birth of the BJPto the resurrection of Jesus Christ and nowto Ram Navmi tomorrow. We areastounded by the extent of megalomaniathat the BJP suffers from as a Party. It isinsulting to the psyche of millions ofIndians, Christians, Hindus and all rightthinking Indians that the Leader of theOpposition should compare the birth of theBJP to Jesus Christ or to Ram Navmi.These are the people even today whereinnocent catholic nuns in Ahmedabad havebeen driven out of a leprosy centre whichthey have been running since 1949 underan MoU with the government for no reasonexcept that they are practicing Christianityand they are nuns and their centre hasbeen taken over by the Government ofGujarat. It is shocking that Shri Advanishould speak to draw the parallel betweenthe resurrection of Jesus Christ and theBharatiya Janata Party.BITTER LESSONS12.4.2006: Shri Abhishek Singhviaddressed the media.Shri Singhvi said those who have tilt theirpolitical career on viciously attacking theCongress Party, every Congress leader,every Congress policy have now beendisowned by their own party. Mr. GeorgeFernandes adopts a righteous, indignantmoral tone, all the time but in his ownbackyard he is unfortunately not able torustle up barely 25 votes. I hope and trustthat atleast now and now is a recurrenceof 1993, more than 16 years ago whenagain he was told how much water hestands in when he lost miserably theleadership of the Parliamentary Party ofhis own Party, then known as the JanataDal. We hope and trust that some of thelessons of history are now learnt otherwiseMr. Fernandes is being taught bitterlessons of history by his own Party. Thedynamite man’s image has been explodedand blown to smithereens by his own partyworkers. He who talks of the third front,of the anti-Congress front should now startvote collection front for himself. We haveonly one piece of parting advice for Mr.Fernandes. Since his own party hascompletely disowned him, he should goback to the BJP and RSS where he reallybelongs.AANDHI CALLED SONIAGANDHI17.4.2006: Shri Abhishek Singhviaddressed the media.Shri Abhishek Singhvi said that on the onehand there are political opponents of Smt.Sonia Gandhi who are ready to point thefinger at her at the drop of a hat. They donot hesitate to mount false campaign,launch attack with her as a target, dovilification wherever half an opportunityprevails or projects itself and on the other30 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006

Diaryhand when democracy presents them witha democratic opportunity to oppose her indemocratic manner, we find that there ishardly any opposition worth the namewhen she contends the Parliamentaryelection. Here are political opponents,political parties, who are ready to shoutand are ready to defame and to attack atthe drop of a hat but who cannot find anymeaningful opposition to stand against theCongress President from Rai Bareilly. Wehad heard many stories of big namessupposed to be entering the fray and wenow find that these stories are just thatfictional stories in the air. The aandhicalled Sonia Gandhi appears unstoppableand it is evident from the level ofOpposition which we find as the date ofelection in Rai Bareilly draws nearer. Ifthese opponents have the courage of theirconvictions, if they believe in what theysay, this is time to demonstrate that theforthcoming elections, the result of whichis not a foregone conclusion.DOUBLE SPEAK BYADVANI21.04.2006: Shri Rajiv Shuklaaddressed the media.Shri Rajiv Shukla said that the CongressParty is surprised on the statement madeby the Leader of the Opposition, ShriAdvani in supporting the demand for aseparate state of Telengana. This is thesame BJP who in their 1998 manifesto hadpromised of making a separate state ofTelengana. They were in power for sixyears but did not make the state ofTelengana though they were successful increating three other states. There was atthat time the government ofShri Chandrababu Naidu in AndhraPradesh and he himself was opposing itand the then President of the BJP, as faras I know, Shri Venkaiha Naidu was alsoopposing it and today also they areopposing it. Now, when the BJP is out ofpower and when Shri Chandrababu Naidutoo has left them, Shri Advaniji is nowtalking of creating a separate state ofTelengana only to misguide the people. Ifthe BJP was so concerned of makingTelengana state then they could haveraised this issue earlier too. As far asCongress is concerned, it is seriouslyworking on the issue.SP THE SINKING SHIP24.4.2006: Shri Abhishek Singhviaddressed the media.Shri Abhishek Singhvi said that it is nowclear that the Samajwadi Party and itsgovernment in Uttar Pradesh is a sinkingship. Like a sinking ship many of itsmembers, supporters and even ministersare rapidly deserting it. It is ironical thatpersons like Shri Mulayam Singh Yadavand his close followers and disciples whoare leading light of that party, instead oftalking about reviving Third Front shouldfirst look inwards and protect their ownsinking ship before they talk of uniting anti-Congress forces, they should meet thechallenges of a new front opened againstthem. On the one hand, we have in UP asitting minister of the government who hasgiven a clarion call to expose the leadersof the Samajwadi Party, to expose variousissues of misgovernance in thegovernment. On the other hand, we havethe very founders of the Samajwadi Partyforming new front against Shri MulayamSingh Yadav, his party and his leading light.We have them pointing out how theseleading lights have sullied and destroyedthe image of the Samajwadi Party andconverted it into a corporate incorporatedentity. We believe that these people and itis interesting and ironic, that these peoplewho have given their great contribution tothe very formation of this entity and thegovernment in Uttar Pradesh have nowrealized that there is all-round hugedwindling of support in the people of UP,in the masses of UP, in the practices andapproach of the Samajwadi Party and theUP Government and has therefore rightlytaken up the cudgels against it.A WELCOME STEP26.4.2006: Shri Abhishek Singhviaddressed the media.Shri Abhishek Singhvi said that CongressParty is happy and welcomes thebeginning of the process of return to, whatwe hope and trust will be, normalcy inNepal. We believe that this must be usedas a process and not as a point. We believethat it cannot be viewed as a binary winlosesituation. We hope that all concernedparties will hasten but hasten slowly in theright direction. The use of technical wordswhether you call it a ceremonial monarchyor a constitutional monarchy or so on andso forth may not be very helpful unlessthose terms are defined. We have to leaveit to the genius of the people of Nepal todecide the exact model, which will be oflasting use and value to that great country.- Tom Vadakkan,Secretary, AICCCongress Sandesh, May, 2006 31

Photofile1 23 45 61. Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh being greeted by Andhra Pradesh Linguistic MinorityCell chairman, Shri Ashok Singh on his arrival in Hyderabad. State Governor and AP chiefminister are also seen.2. AICC Ex-Serviceman Department Chairman, Shri K.P. Singh Deo (third from left) and AICCsecretary, Capt. Praveen Davar at the Kamraj Memorial in Virudnagar district of Tamil Nadu.3. Mahila Congress president, Smt. Rita Bahuguna Joshi and other office bearers visit and consolethe victims of bomb blast in Varanasi.4. Narsinghpur District Congress Committee president leading Congressmen demonstrating blackflags when Shri Advani’s rath yatra passed through Madhya Pradesh.5. Former Home Minister, Shri Buta Singh at the seminar on Parliamentarism and Democracy inRussia and India at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture. Also seen are Shri J.P. Aggarwal(MP), Shri Andrey Sorokin and Shri (Dr.) R.B. Singh.86. Congress workers sit in dharna demonstration in Hyderabad against Advani’s Rath Yatra.7. Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee Linguistic Minority Cell felicitated Mahila Congressgeneral secretary, Smt. Kamalakshi Sharma in Hyderabad on 22 April.32 Congress Sandesh, May, 2006