Govt. inconsistent on autonomy issue: Sonia

From Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 13 The Congress(I) president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, today said the NDA Government was confused and inconsistent in its approach to the question of greater autonomy to J&K. Her remarks came in the course of her address to the PCC chiefs and CLP leaders this afternoon.

Mrs Gandhi used the meeting to elaborate her party's stand on the issue, and in doing so she tried to distinguish between what she called the BJP's confused approach to the issue and her party's clear policy. ``For us the Indira Gandhi - Sheikh Abdullah accord of 1975 takes care of all Constitutional concerns, and therefore within the Constitution and within the framework of the 1975 accord. We believe it is possible for the Government to hold discussions and consultations with Dr Abdullah and all political parties to bring about a satisfactory solution''.

Later talking to presspersons the Congress president took the Government to task for talking in differant voices on important issues. She chose to explain away the problem of indiscipline in her party saying the Congress was ``a large family, one in which differant views and voices came up from time to time and it was important to listen and accommodate these voices''. She took a swipe at the BJP saying the focus was deliberately kept on the Congress ``because it helps to suppress what is happening in the BJP''.

Criticising the Government for withdrawing support to the khadi and village industry, she announced that the party would organise dharnas and protest marches throughout the country against the move on August 9, the Quit India day. Mrs Gandhi expressed deep concern at the attacks on the minorities and urged the party to put pressure on the Government to prevent such attacks.

During her address the Congress president urged her partymen to remain vigilant specially in the States where Assembly elections are scheduled next year and to keep an eye on the preparation of voter lists. ``It often happens that we don't pay attention and our supporters' names are struck off the list.''

Today's meeting decided to hold camps for active members of the party throughout the country. The idea, according to the party spokesman, Mr. Ajit Jogi, was to help the members acquaint themselves with the party's ideology, history, stand on some of the important issues concerning the nation and the challenges before the party. The party also planned to hold zonal conventions of block presidents, DCC and PCC office-bearers in the last week of August.

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