National   

“Don’t take BJP dissidents in Congress”

NEW DELHI: Civil rights activists have urged Congress president Sonia Gandhi not to admit the BJP dissident group from Gujarat into the party fold. In an open letter, they have sought an unequivocal statement from her so that secularism finds “centre stage in the campaign arena in Gujarat.”

Describing the Congress’ willingness to consider the BJP dissidents’ proposal as an “opportunistic brand of politics,” the letter draws attention to the credentials of some of those who want to switch sides ahead of the Assembly elections. In particular, there is mention of Gordhan Jhadafiya, who was Home Minister during the communal riots post-Godhra fire in 2002.

By trying to “exact a win in Gujarat” by admitting “even those men who served Chief Minister Narendra Modi well in 2002” the senior Congressmen involved in this exercise were not standing for the ideology of the “erstwhile Congress.”

The letter criticised the justification by senior Congress leaders that there was nothing wrong in welcoming Mr. Jhadafiya to the party when “hardcore Shiv Sainiks” Narayan Rane and Sanjay Nirupam had been taken on board. Pointing out that they had opposed the Congress admitting Mr. Rane and Mr. Nirupam at that juncture also, the activists urge Ms. Gandhi to speak out “unequivocally” on the issue of secularism and moral principle. “We would not like to believe that secularism is a private concern that can only be voiced behind closed doors. It needs to find centre stage in the campaign arena in Gujarat.”

The signatories include Teesta Setalvad, Vijay Tendulkar, Cedric Prakash, Alyque Padamsee, Rahul Bose, Rakesh Sharma, Anand Patwardhan, Harsh Mander, Ram Punyani, Bharat Jhalla and Javed Anand.

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

Stories in this Section

PDS foodgrains problem due to cut in APL allocations: Brinda Karat
Sharad Pawar’s remark on foodgrains refuted
It was a question of legality: Buddhadeb
Karunanidhi should apologise: BJP
“Don’t take BJP dissidents in Congress”
BJP not to oblige rebel MPs with disciplinary action
CPI demands notification of Forest Act
Sensex: BJP for JPC probe
POSCO seeks protection for its staff
FIR can’t wait for inquest: apex court
IBF withdraws hike on ad rates

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu