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Congress : Differences on Sonia’s Pak stand |
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The Congress is divided on the issue of Pak-sponsored terrorism and Priyanka’s role in the UP elections. Whether Sonia Gandhi should plead the Government’s case on Pak-sponsored terrorism outside the country is one of the main issues that is creating a divide. Whether Sonia should allow her daughter Priyanka to campaign in the UP polls is the other issue on which there is yet no consensus. If Sonia decide to defend the Government’s line in foreign countries it could help the BJP in the assembly elections, Congress leaders feel. The principal opposition party would be seen as the B team of the BJP or a constituent of the ruling NDA. But some others feel it was the right time to prove the party’s national spirit as it was the BJP and the Sangh Parivar which had made Sonia’s foreign origin an issue in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections.
In the meantime, the party remained non-committal on Sonia leading a high-level delegation to any foreign country to present India’s case in its fight against cross-border terrorism. The party spokesman pointed out that Sonia was open to the idea as it was at the all-party meeting attended by her also that such a proposal was mooted. As Sonia has left the decision of campaigning for the polls to Priyanka, the party has not yet announced any firm plans, though a large section of Congressmen feel it could help the party which is facing a formidable challenge in UP. That Priyanka will bring the much needed youthful look to the Congress in UP which has many senior leaders is conceded but if she does join the drive and the party fares poorly, Priyanka would lose her appeal in the next general elections, Some of the advisers of Sonia point out that as the Congress chances are not too bright, it may not be a bright idea to launch Priyanka in the electoral politics. Having decided to go it alone in the UP elections, the Congress strategists are working on selecting the strong candidates with winnable prospects.
‘No’ to meeting with VHP leader
Sonia Gandhi has politely declined to meet Swami Chinmayananda, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader and BJP’s Lok Sabha member, who had sought to meet her about the Ayodhya issue. Sonia has instead suggested that he could “interact” with senior Congress leaders Arjun Singh and S Jaipal Reddy, whom she has tasked to study and track the Ayodhya issue. The meeting has not come off as the Congress leaders have shown no inclination to discuss the subject with the VHP leader.
Chinmayananda wrote to Sonia early December, requesting for a meeting to explain to her the VHP’s view behind its demand for the Ram temple construction at Ayodhya and also to seek her cooperation in this. The VHP has revived the temple campaign ahead of the UP assembly polls and has set the March 12 deadline for resolving the temple tangle.
Congress leaders believe Chinmayananda sought a meeting with Sonia to create an impression that the Congress and the BJP are on the same side on the Ayodhya issue. They felt this would keep the issue alive, create confusion among voters and drive the minorities away from the Congress. Observers feel that Sonia declined an audience because there was no meeting ground between the two. She also made it clear that she would also not meet the VHP leaders on the issue. Arjun Singh and Jaipal Reddy are expected to keep tabs on the Sangh Parivar’s strategy on Ayodhya and recommend ways to counter its propaganda, especially in view of UP polls.
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