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Friday, Apr 04, 2008
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BJP leaders speak in different voices: Sonia

Mohammed Iqbal

Ridicules Advani’s statement on Kandahar

Sonia Gandhi

BENESHWAR DHAM (RAJASTHAN): Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party for its “ambivalence” on the issue of terrorism, saying its leaders were giving conflicting versions and shifting blame on each other while paying lip service to prevention of violence and justifying the safe passage provided to dreaded terrorists.

Addressing a big rally of tribals at this popular pilgrim centre in southern Rajasthan, Ms. Gandhi ridiculed BJP leader L.K. Advani’s statement that he was not aware of the NDA government’s decision to release terrorists in 1999, with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh escorting them to Kandahar.

“Does it mean that the then Prime Minister did not trust his own Home Minister? The then Defence Minister, on the other hand, says that Mr. Advani was in the know of the decision,” said Ms. Gandhi. Mr. Jaswant Singh was still silent on the issue, she added.

Speaking on the subject for the first time after the release of Mr. Advani’s autobiography, My Country My Life, Ms. Gandhi said the BJP was responsible for the cult of violence gaining ground in society, and none of its leaders had made sacrifices for the nation.

Ms. Gandhi questioned the BJP’s right to challenge the Congress on the issue with the “bogus claims” of going soft on terrorism.

The Congress president hinted that the United Progressive Alliance government could increase the land holding limit for farmers to enable them to avail themselves of the loan waiver scheme worth Rs. 60,000 crore announced in this year’s Union Budget. “I hope that the Prime Minister will shortly take an action in this regard,” she said.

The UPA chairperson also expressed concern over the sharp rise in the prices of essentials during the past few months, but said it was also the responsibility of the State governments to streamline the public distribution system, make the supply of essential commodities transparent and take action against hoarders.

Ms. Gandhi drew the attention of the people in this tribal-dominated region to the recent passage of the Tribal Rights Bill and said the legislation would help over 50,000 families get title of the land that they ploughed and nurtured for generations.

Tribals attired in colourful clothes at the pilgrim centre of Wagad belt situated on the banks of the confluence of three rivers — Som, Mahi and Jakham — on the borders of Dungarpur and Banswara districts listened to Ms. Gandhi with rapt attention and applauded and raised slogans hailing her.

Ms. Gandhi, virtually kicking off the Congress campaign for the coming Assembly elections in Rajasthan, said the UPA government had tried to do justice to all sections of society and empowered the poor, the downtrodden and the tribals while protecting their rich heritage.

She said steps, such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya and the Janshree insurance scheme, were aimed at benefiting the tribals and the Dalits and stop their migration in search of livelihood.

Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot, Mukul Vasnik, Girija Vyas, Namonarain Meena, C.P. Joshi and Hemaram Chaudhary were among those present on the occasion.

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