The Hindu : Front Page : Sonia for rectification of mistake

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Friday, Sep 14, 2007
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Sonia for rectification of mistake

pecial Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi intervened on Thursday for quick damage control in the wake of the controversy over the government affidavit in the Supreme Court on the Ramar Sethu project.

“Ms. Gandhi has asked for immediate rectification of the mistake and action,” a party spokesperson said here on Thursday.

Ms. Gandhi’s direction came in the face of criticism of the government affidavit that questioned “the existence of the characters of the Ramayana.” Even the United Progressive Alliance partners publicly held that the entire controversy was unnecessary and should have been avoided. The RJD had been most vocal about the needless debate breathing a new life into the Bhartiya Janata Party and the sangh parivar, who were raring to make it into an election issue, more particularly with Gujarat elections in the offing.

In view of the seriousness of the situation, a meeting of the Core Group of senior Congress leaders was convened on Thursday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Ms. Gandhi attending the meeting.

At a hurriedly convened press conference, Law and Justice Minister H.R. Bhardwaj said the affidavit would be rectified. He said Ms. Gandhi had expressed concern over the issue. The Prime Minister had asked him to examine the issue and he summoned the Culture Secretary for dropping the controversial portions in a supplementary affidavit that is proposed to be filed on Friday.

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