The Hindu : Congress leaders upset over Khursheed's remarks

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

Other States

Other States - Union Territories

Congress leaders upset over Khursheed's remarks

By Rajesh Ahuja

CHANDIGARH, FEB.14. The remarks of the senior Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister, Salman Khursheed, at a press conference here on Friday evening that the Congress faced an uphill task in Punjab though it would sweep the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Haryana despite dissidence have generated a feeling of "anguish'' among several partymen.

Here in Chandigarh to address a rally organised by the local unit of the Youth Congress, Mr.Khursheed said the unity forged recently in the Akali Dal and the `infighting' within the Punjab unit of the party was a matter of concern and there was need to shed complacency or else the going might be very tough for the Congress in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. Asked about the recent developments in the Punjab unit of the Congress and the feud between the Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, and the Deputy Chief Minister, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, he admitted that the situation had improved but there was need for further `healing of wounds.'

According to local Congress leaders, the remarks could cause embarrassment to partymen in Punjab and boost the morale of the Akali Dal. This factor could also have a fall-out in the region.

Asked about the "dissidence'' in the Haryana unit of the party, he said that the war of attrition between the Leader of the Opposition, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and the former Chief Minister and State Congress chief, Bhajan Lal, was nothing new and the high command was aware of the situation. He asserted that the Congress was quite hopeful of performing exceptionally well in the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana.

He disclosed that the Congress strategy for the forthcoming polls was to project the youth as an alternative to the "old'' leadership of the BJP (Atal Bihari Vajpayee). The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had constituted a team of 25 youth leaders who would travel all over the country to mobilise the youth and listen to their expectations and problems which would find a reflection in the party's manifesto.

Both Mr.Khursheed and the Mahila Congress general secretary, Alka Lamba, launched a scathing attack on the Vajpayee regime and dubbed the "India Shining" campaign'' as a big `farce.' They also charged that scams had multiplied during the tenure of the NDA regime and the BJP's claim of winning 300 seats would be defeated at the battle of the hustings.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Congress leaders upset over Khursheed's remarks