The Hindu – It’s an attack on democratic values: Sonia

PM assures all assistance, more Central police forces

Sandeep Joshi

New Delhi, 26 May 2013.  Stunned by gruesome Naxal attack on its top Chhattisgarh leaders, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday termed it as an “attack on democratic values,” even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up State Chief Minister Raman Singh to take stock of the situation and assured deployment of more forces to deal with the Maoist menace.

“We are shocked, astounded and pained by the attack on our colleagues in Chhattisgarh…It is an attack on democratic values which need to be condemned by not only political parties, but society as a whole,” Ms. Gandhi told reporters here.

Meanwhile, government sources said the Prime Minister spoke to the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Mr. Raman Singh over phone and assured all assistance and more Central police forces in dealing with the situation. Mr. Singh also offered to send air ambulances to rush seriously injured leaders to Delhi for better medical care.

Soon after the attack, senior Home Ministry officials huddled in the North Block to take review security scenario in all Naxal-affected states. Senior officers of the CRPF, the paramilitary force that is assisting the State police forces in fighting Maoists, were also called to discuss the attack and steps needed to ensure safety and security of leaders in the State, where the threat perception is higher.

Official sources said the Home Ministry along with police forces of all nine Naxal-affected States were likely to review overall security scenario in these States and also relook at security cover being provided to leaders and other prominent persons.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/its-an-attack-on-democratic-values-sonia/article4750904.ece

The Hindu – Congress should lead struggle against corruption: Sonia

Jaipur, 20 January 2013.  Calling corruption a “deep rooted malice”, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday said the party must lead the ‘struggle’ to counter its effect.

“Let me reiterate corruption at all levels is a deep rooted malice and all sections of society are affected by it. As a party we must lead struggle to combat its effect,” Sonia Gandhi said at the party’s ‘Chintan Shivir’ in Jaipur.

The ‘Chintan Shivir’, the Congress’ introspective meet, began here on January 18 and will conclude on Sunday.

The Congress president said corruption was the main concern of the nation when the party held its session at Burari in July 2011.

Sonia Gandhi said that a five-point agenda to deal with corruption was given and the party has moved on with it.

The key among the steps taken was introducing Lokpal bill in the parliament and introducing more transparency in the process of allocating natural resources, said the Congress president.

“We have introduced path-breaking legislation for grievance redressal, whistle blowers, and the historic ‘apka paisa apke hath’ (your money in your hands, the direct cash transfer scheme) initiative,” she said. (IANS)

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-should-lead-struggle-against-corruption-sonia/article4325546.ece

BBC News – India’s Congress holds mass rally to defend reforms

New Delhi, 4 November 2012. India’s ruling Congress party has held a mass rally in Delhi to shore up support and defend controversial economic reforms.

Tens of thousands gathered to hear party head Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and possible future PM Rahul Gandhi speak.

Mr Singh said those opposing moves to open the retail sector to foreign firms were “misleading the people”.

Support for Congress has been hit by economic concerns and corruption cases.

‘Corruption a cancer’

The BBC’s Sanjoy Majumder, in Delhi, says the rally was a massive show of strength by Congress as it attempts to shore up support ahead of elections in 2014.

Mr Singh defended the recent wave of controversial economic reforms, which include allowing the likes of Walmart and Tesco to enter the Indian market.

He said the move would benefit everyone and that it was wrong to claim farmers would suffer when, in fact, the reforms would create more jobs.

Mrs Gandhi delivered a fiery speech, addressing corruption allegations levelled against her party and its allies over the past two years.

“I admit, corruption is a cancer, it is a disease,” she said. “We will continue to fight this disease.”

But she added: “Those who dig a pit for others to fall should know that a well is waiting for them to fall into.”

The corruption cases include allegations involving the hosting of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, mobile phone licensing, coalfield allocations, embezzlement of charity funds and the actions of Mrs Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra in real estate deals.

Our correspondent says that all eyes at the rally were on Rahul Gandhi, who is widely seen as Congress’s candidate for prime minister in 2014.

He stressed the party’s commitment to the poor and promised tough measures to tackle corruption and land reform.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20197379

The Hindu – Congress Working Committee backs reforms but questions raised on timing, need

Smita Gupta

New Delhi, September 25, 2012. The Congress Working Committee on Tuesday endorsed the government’s recent economic policy decisions, including the controversial one permitting FDI in multibrand retail, but not before some members expressed their apprehensions about the timing, necessity and advisability of the measures taken, especially as State elections are round the corner. Their chief concern was that there should be no obstacles in the way of ameliorating the condition of the poor and weaker sections.

Of course, with Congress president Sonia Gandhi leading the discussion with her extempore opening remarks, striking an approbatory note on economic reforms, stressing that the government was stable and slamming the Opposition, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

But the questions asked by some CWC members forced the government’s representatives to try and allay their fears. One member felt that it might have been better to create public opinion for these decisions before they were taken, another said had the party been taken into confidence before the government made its announcements, it could have responded more effectively to criticism.

Could not the diesel price increase have been staggered, questioned a third, while a fourth wanted to know why Congress Chief Ministers were not consulted on the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders. Among those who placed their views strongly were Congress media chairperson Janardan Dwivedi, general secretary Madhusudan Mistry and senior leader Mohsina Kidwai.

On his part, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured the CWC, Mr. Dwivedi said, that his government would take care of the poor, the farming community and the disadvantaged, creating policies that were in line with the Congress’ traditional concern for the aam aadmi.

Both Dr. Singh, and Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, who spoke before him, said the government would not be able to implement the UPA’s pro-poor flagship programmes without undertaking reforms. Mr. Chidambaram, Mr. Dwivedi added, explained that if steps were not taken to attract FDI, reduce subsidies and increase productivity, the rupee would continue in freefall. Party sources added that while there was a reluctant agreement that everyone must pay to restore the health of the economy, the poor must pay less.

Ms. Gandhi said it was imperative to undertake economic reforms and expressed satisfaction that the government had taken steps in that direction. She also said the message of the reforms must be taken to the people by the party, just as welfare measures undertaken by the government had been publicised in the past.

Congress sources said the party was planning a massive rally in the capital in support of the measures initiated by the government: indeed, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was specially called for the meeting for this purpose but as time ran out, the details could not be discussed. It is also likely that similar public meetings will be held at district headquarters to explain the reasons for the government’s economic decisions, and the BJP’s “hypocrisy” in opposing them.

Indeed, in her speech, Ms. Gandhi lambasted the Opposition for playing “negative” politics, as she urged the BJP to play a responsible Opposition as the Congress did when it was similarly placed. Without naming any party, she said that after the exit of one ally, two other allies came forward to back the government, so there was no threat to it.

As for other issues, the Congress president expressed her concern at the spate of recent communal incidents in Uttar Pradesh and thanked all those who assisted in relief work in Assam after the State was devastated by a burst of sectarian violence.

Senior leader Gurcharan Singh Charak drew attention to the recent murder of three sarpanches in Jammu and Kashmir. To this, general secretary Rahul Gandhi responded, saying it was a “serious issue” and needed immediate attention.

Party sources said Mr. Gandhi would speak to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, as the Congress is part of his government, urging him to take steps immediately to restore confidence in the sarpanches, many of whom have quit their posts in the wake of the killings.

No CWC meeting would be complete without a member suggesting that Mr. Gandhi be given more responsibilities — and the former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi did just that. But sources said the suggestion went unremarked on.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cwc-backs-reforms-but-questions-raised-on-timing-need/article3934867.ece

The Asian Age – Sonia Gandhi leads UPA attack on L K Advani

Asian Age Correspondent

New Delhi, 9 August 2012. In a rare show of combativeness, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday led the UPA attack in the Lok Sabha against senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, who earlier described UPA-2 as “illegitimate”.

Mr Advani, initiating the debate on the adjournment motion on the Assam ethnic violence, said: “In 2004, the UPA-1 was formed after winning the election, so it was a legitimate government. But UPA-2 is an illegitimate government.” At this, UPA members were on their feet demanding an apology from Mr Advani.

A visibly angry Mrs Gandhi led the protest, asking UPA MPs to stand up and prevent Mr Advani from continuing. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also described Mr Advani’s remark as “disgraceful and unfortunate”.

Mr Advani later clarified he was referring to the contentious July 2008 confidence vote in the Lok Sabha, which the UPA government won.

The BJP, reacting to the Prime Minister’s observation, asked if the “cash-for vote scam was graceful”? The stage now appears set for a fresh bout of confrontation between the ruling and Opposition benches.

Initiating the debate on the Assam violence, Mr Advani called the UPA-2 government “illegitimate”, leading to vociferous protests which forced Speaker Meira Kumar to adjourn the House for a second time. The Speaker also asked Mr Advani to withdraw his remark, upon which the veteran BJP leader said he was referring to the 2008 trust vote and not the 2009 polls.

Mr Advani, accusing the government of failing to control the situation in Assam, said it should not be regarded as ethnic violence and that illegal Bangladeshi migrants, who posed a security threat to Assam and the rest of India, should be identified. Otherwise, he warned, the violence would continue.

http://www.asianage.com/india/sonia-leads-upa-attack-advani-142

The Asian Age – NCP wants to quit government, stay in UPA

Venkatesh Kesari, Asian Age Correspondent

New Delhi, 21 July 2012. Crisis managers in the Congress tried to keep ally NCP in good humour on Friday, a day after NCP chief Sharad Pawar and NCP leader and heavy industries minister Praful Patel sent their resignations to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on issues related to the functioning of the government and the coalition.

While Mr Pawar assured Dr Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi that his party would continue to remain in the UPA and support the government, he met them separately in the last 24 hours and explained why the NCP has decided to pull out of the government.

In a statement, the Prime Minister said, “Mr Sharad Pawar is a very valued colleague of mine whose knowledge, wisdom and experience are a great asset to our government.” The Congress core group discussed the issues raised by Mr Pawar at its meeting here Friday evening. Sources said “the matter has been settled. It has more to do with coordination between allies than with any demand for the number two position in the Cabinet.”

Though the NCP will decide its course of action on Monday, Congress managers are working on a formula to satisfy the NCP.

During his meetings with the PM and Mrs Gandhi, Mr Pawar made it clear that his party was not bargaining for anything and had not taken this step as a pressure tactic. He told them that key policy issues should be discussed with the UPA allies before bringing matters to the Cabinet.

Mr Pawar drew the PM’s and Mrs Gandhi’s attention to the deteriorating image of the government and the grim situation in key sectors, saying the government has to perform well and deliver before the next Lok Sabha election.

The NCP has been unhappy with the way the allies are kept in the dark on policy issues, and with the populist approach of the Congress. “This is a coalition, and not a one-party government,” a UPA leader said.

“We are unhappy with some aspects which have been raised by Pawar in personal meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi,” Mr Praful Patel said.

At AICC headquarters, party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said the Congress views Mr Pawar as a “senior and respectable” leader who is “looked upon with reverence” in the UPA.

On whether the NCP chief was mulling pulling out of the government, Mr Dwivedi said, “There is no such serious problem. A solution will be found.” Another Congress general secretary, Mr Digvijay Singh, also sought to mollify Mr Pawar.

http://www.asianage.com/india/ncp-wants-quit-govt-stay-upa-178

The Tribune – Sarabjit’s sister meets Sonia

Tribune News Service

New Delhi/Amritsar, July 4. Dalbir Kaur, sister of Indian death-row convict Sarabjit Singh, today met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to seek her help for her brother’s release. Sarabjit has been languishing in a Pakistan jail for the past more than 20 years.

Maintaining that she could not express the pain that the family had experienced, Dalbir said Sonia Gandhi gave her a patient hearing and assured of all help. “Soniaji assured us of trying her best to get my brother back. She said the government is equally concerned about him,” said Dalbir.

Dalbir, who met Sonia at her residence, said she requested the Congress president to add the issue in the government’s political agenda to be taken up with Pakistan in the future.

Meanwhile, the family members of Sarabjeet Singh performed a yajna in Amritsar today to pray for his release from Pakistan jail. A number of social activists also attended the event.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120705/punjab.htm#4

The Asian Age – Will Congress chief reconstitute her team?

Asian Age Correspondent

24 June 2012

Sharp division among the AICC officials on the issue of policies, strategy and the role may compel the party chief Sonia Gandhi to reconstitute her team without a delay. This is because the division is leading to confusion among the party workers ahead of the Assembly elections in about half-a-dozen states.

While controversial statements by its senior leaders in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls were one of the factors behind the party’s debacle. The comments and statements of some of its leaders about allies have also posed a question whether the Congress is really serious about following coalition dharma.

Meanwhile, AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh on Saturday said he stands by “every word” he has said about Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.

“I stand by every word that I have said,” Mr Digvijay Singh said when asked whether this also meant that he sticks by his remarks dubbing Ms Banerjee as “immature” and “erratic” in her behaviour regarding the presidential poll.

However, he replied in the negative when asked whether the Congress has reached the limit of tolerance with the Trinamul Congress.

Mr Digvijay Singh told a TV channel that Ms Banerjee’s naming Dr Mannmohan Singh as one of her choices for presidentship was “certainly an embarrassment for the Prime Minister…. And to a great extent to the party.”

Party in-charge for West Bengal Shakeel Ahmed declined to comment on the latest remarks of Mr Digvijay Singh. “He is a senior leader. I do not want to comment.”

Earlier this week, the AICC had snubbed Mr Digvijay Singh for his remarks against Ms Banerjee making it clear that he was “not officially authorised” to speak to the media.

“Digvijay Singh is not officially authorised to speak on behalf of the party,” the AICC had said in a media release.

The AICC snub had followed a series of television interviews by Mr Digvijay Singh in which he had suggested that the Congress will not go beyond a point to mollify Ms Banerjee.

A day after the snub, Mr Digvijay Singh said he had not “crossed any boundaries” of party line.

http://www.asianage.com/india/will-cong-chief-reconstitute-her-team-294

The Hindu – Standard and Poor rating agency: Manmohan unable to influence colleagues

Special Correspondent

New Delhi, 12 June 2012. The global rating agency, Standard and Poor (S&P), in its report on the Indian economic impasse, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “often appears to have limited ability to influence his Cabinet colleagues and proceed with the liberalisation policy he favours …It would be ironic if a government under the economist, who spurred much of the liberalisation of India’s economy and helped unleash such gains, were to preside over their potential erosion.”

It noted that setbacks to or reversals in India’s path to a more liberal economy “could hurt its long-term growth prospects and, therefore, its credit quality.”

Evidently, even while not pointing to the specific measures of liberalisation, the agency appears to be referring to the government’s flip-flop on opening up foreign direct investment to multi-brand retail and the more recent reports on the UPA’s ally Trinamool Congress blocking pension reforms.

Among the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China), the S&P noted, the other three enjoyed a higher rating or outlook than India.

Incidentally, the report comes at a time when views are expressed as to whether the ‘I’ in BRIC should be replaced with Indonesia on account of its comparatively robust growth.

The only bright side of the report is to allay fears of India facing a 1991 type of crisis, saying the situation is much better now.

http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/article3516749.ece

The Tribune – Congress Working Committee to discuss critical issues facing UPA

Ashok Tuteja, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 3. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will hold a crucial meeting here tomorrow to discuss the current political situation and the challenges faced by the UPA government on the economic front.

The meeting of the highest policy-making body of the party will be presided over by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, top Congress ministers, party chief ministers, Congress legislature party leaders and other senior leaders.

This is the first meeting of the CWC since the party’s dismal performance in the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Goa earlier this year. The meeting is expected to discuss the party’s poor showing in the Assembly elections as also the report of the A K Antony panel on the electoral drubbing. Leaders from the poll-bound states like Karnataka, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are likely to be asked to spell out their preparedness for the elections.

With the Presidential election scheduled to be held next month, senior party leaders say the issue might figure informally at the meeting. However, a final decision in the matter would only be taken by the Congress chief. The CWC may authorise her to hold consultations with UPA allies and also Opposition parties on the issue.

The CWC could also discuss the trouble being given to the UPA dispensation by the Trinamool Congress on almost every critical issue. The recent hike in petrol price has upset not only the Trinamool Congress but other allies as well. Even some senior Congress leaders have joined the chorus to demand that the hike be withdrawn.

The joint campaign by Baba Ramdev and Team Anna on the issue of corruption and their agitation in the capital today could also come up at the meeting. Congress leaders say the UPA government is committed to combating corruption but assert that they would not surrender to the dictates of any group on this score and go by the will of Parliament.

The meeting could see the passage of a resolution calling for effective steps to provide relief to common man grappling with the rise in prices of essential commodities.

The sharp fall in the rupee and the plummeting GDP growth rate have added to the woes of not only the UPA government but also the Congress leadership. The party is worried that the grim economic situation could affect its prospects in the upcoming assembly polls too.

The CWC is expected to indicate the party’s stand on the need for the government to push some big-ticket reforms to give a push to the economy. Recently Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had indicated that the time had come for the government to ‘bite the bullet’ on economic reforms.

The government was also said to be considering pushing for Foreign Direct Investment in retail even if some of its allies refuse to come on board.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120604/main1.htm