CONGRESS SANDESH COMPLETES ITS SEVEN YEAR

AICCDiaryCODE OF ETHICS03.06.2005: Shri Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media.Shri Abhishek Singhvi said that the speaker of the Lok Sabha hasrecently issued a circular which reiterates certain norms and rulesregarding the conduct of business by parliamentary committee. Thenorms are substantially a reiteration and reinforcement of existingrules and regulations on the subject with a few additions here andthere. Since the circular seeks to promote austerity and discipline inpublic life, the Congress party, under the initiative and leadership ofthe Congress president, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, have our own set ofrules and guidelines on issues of austerity, simple living and a codeof ethics in public life.The circular is thus well-intentioned and we are sure that the Hon’blemembers of Parliament, cutting across the political spectrum, willsee it in that correct light and perspective. It goes without sayingthat and details or issues of nitty-gritty changes which may involveeither a genuine grievance or which may actually seem to behampering the discharge of duty as Members of Parliament willalways be open for discussion with the appropriate authority.ADVANI CALLS JINNAH SECULAR06.06.2005: Shri Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media.Shri Abhishek Singhvi said that it is truly ironic and astonishingthat Shri Advani considers Jinnah secular. Perhaps Advaniji wouldlike to explain to the nation his new definition of secularism. ForShri Advani and for Shri Jinnah, as indeed for Veer Savarkar,secularism can justify a two-nation theory. It can mean separateelectorates divided on the basis of religion which, as you knowJinnah advocated and supported. It can mean a division of Indiaon religious basis, something which the Congress always opposedwhich Jinnah demanded and which Shri Advani now supports.Perhaps Shri Advani desires Jinnah’s brand of secularism in India.One, August 11, 1947 speech does not make Jinnah secular,just like one swallow does not make a summer. The secularismof India’s independence movement, the secularism of Gandhiji,of Nehruji cannot possibly be compared to Jinnah. Shri Advanicalls secular a person, like Shri Jinnah, who on the death ofGandhiji referred to him as a Hindu leader. Shri Advani’s supportof Jinnah’s secularism is just like his hypocrisy on the Ayodhyaissue. His tears at the demolition of the Babri Masjid are nothingbut crocodile tears. After Shri Advani’s several speeches duringthe yatra and on 1 st of December, 1992 when he started fromVaranasi to Ayodhya and after his own presence at the demolition,such expressions of pain are nothing but the political chameleonchanging calours for political purposes and for the lust of power.ABVP VANDALISM08.06.2005: Smt. Jayanti Natarajan addressed the media.Smt. Jayanti Natarajan said that I would like to strongly condemnthe vandalism indulged in by the ABVP cadre in destroying publicproperty and creating total havoc at a meeting held to decide theNCERT circulam. This kind of action totally negates not just theprinciples of democracy, a democratic dissent that India hasalways stood for, but also goes against the grain of any kind ofeducation this country is justly famous for. If there is any dissent,it should be expressed in a most democratic way at the forumitself and indulging in hooliganism␣␣and vandalism thesedispleasing acts of hooliganism and vandalism of petty level bythe BJP and its friendly colleagues, the AVBP is totallycondemnable in any civilized society.OPPOSITION IN DISARRAY13.06.2005: Shri Anand Sharma addressed the media.Shri Anand Sharma said that the BJP, the principal oppositionparty and that it is a matter of concern that the main OppositionParty is in a state of disarray, its leadership is confused anddirectionless. The party which claimed to be one with a differencehas become a party with differences. It is unable to speak in acoherent voice on issues which generally concern the people ofthis country. BJP leadership collectively has demonstrated itsinability to perform its designated role as on Opposition in ourdemocracy. During the Parliament session, the Opposition wasabsent and failing to take up issues which should have beendebated or discussed and after the session it is still unable toraise those matters which do affect the people of this country.BRUTAL REPRESSION15.06.2005: Smt. Jayanti Natarajan addressed the media.Smt. Jayanti Natarajan said that for the second time there hasbeen a brutal repression of issues raised by farmers and this is30Congress SandeshJuly, 2005