The Hindu : No compromise on ideology, says Sonia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 20, 2004

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No compromise on ideology, says Sonia

By Luv Puri

JAMMU, JAN. 19. The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, today said that the party would stick to its basic ideology and principles no matter what the circumstances were.

At a function here to commemorate the inclusion of the Dogri language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, she said: "Some political parties have compromised on basic Indian values for short-term goals. They have been successful. But the Congress will not follow the same path. The party was founded on the values of secularism and unity of the country, and it will not deviate from the mission statement formulated by freedom fighters."

The Congress president said the party had committed mistakes in the past and it had suffered because of them. But it had to move ahead and take the nation forward. "The party stands for an egalitarian order and all-round economic development. Economic progress should not be limited to a section but it should include the poor. The Congress stands for improving the plight of the poor by innovative ideas."

She said any promise made by the party would be fulfilled. In Jammu and Kashmir, it formed a coalition government in the supreme national interest. Along with allies it tried to restore peace in the State and the results were before everyone.

Ms. Gandhi said the Congress would not politicise the issues of national interest like other parties. It supported the peace moves between India and Pakistan as they were important for restoring normality in the region. But it wanted the Central Government not to reduce them to a symbolic exercise.

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