The Hindu : Gandhian plans protest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 15, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Gandhian plans protest

By Our Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM, FEB. 14. The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) member and Khadi Consumers' Welfare Association president, S. Gopal, has announced that he would submit a memorandum to the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, for initiating action against the city Municipal Commissioner "who had attacked Gandhism''.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, he said that Mahatma Gandhi and Gandhism were being forgotten by successive governments and political parties. "On January 30 in the Lok Sabha, the Congress party led by the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) president, Sonia Gandhi, had to walk out in protest as the traditional two-minute silence was not observed. Incidentally, on the same day in Visakhapatnam, an IAS officer removed the shamiana and damaged the mike set when we tried to pay homage to Gandhi in front of the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation. These two incidents cannot be taken as stray and unconnected. Gandhism is purposefully and strategically attacked at all levels,'' he lamented.

Mr. Gopal said that he was planning the protest from Rajghat in New Delhi in the last week of this month and submit a memorandum to Mr. Kalam as it was the President who could initiate action against IAS officers violating law. He would request Dr. Kalam to order an inquiry into the causes that led to the removal of the shamiana erected for the purpose of prayer on Martyrs Day, he said.

The Congress leader also disclosed that he would submit an assessment report to Ms. Sonia Gandhi in connection with the elections. The Congress in this region "has to be freed from political fiefdom'' of certain leaders who, he alleged, were working in tandem with Telugu Desam Party.

"We have to implement Panchamarhi resolution to prevent money and muscle power from taking over north Andhra. Local candidates who have carried the flag all these years and not contested so far should be given an opportunity,'' Mr. Gopal said.

In this context, he pointed out that the Congress had won elections to the local bodies and mayoral contest twice in the region without help from "treasure hunters and political overlords''. If Congress workers could be trusted, the party would win over 20 Assembly and five Lok Sabha seats in the three districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam, he felt.

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