Shimla, June 21: Over 200 top leaders of the Congress Party would gather here for a three-day brainstorming session next month ahead of the coming elections. The ‘chintan manthan’ camp, beginning on July 7, would discuss threadbare a wide range of issues concerning the people, besides other national and international topics, AICC general secretary, Oscar Fernandes, who was here in connection with preparation for the camp, told reporters.
The conclave, he said, had been named as Pachmarhi-II. As the idea of this camp had been conceived during the Pachmarhi conclave held in September 1998.It had no correlations with the recent ‘chintan baithak’ of the BJP, he added.
He said that issues like poverty, unemployment and "inept handling" of the drought situation by the NDA government at the Centre would be in focus during the conclave to be addressed by AICC president Sonia Gandhi and the cream of the party.

Charging the Central Government with "inept handling" of the drought situation, Fernandes said there was a feeling among the affected people that enough had not been done to tackle the situation.

Referring to speculation on early election to Lok Sabha, he said the congress was not only fully geared to face the election, but even wanted the NDA government to quit paving the way for fresh election.

The Himachal Pradesh chief minister V B Singh who was also present said sonia gandhi would also inaugurate the 300 mw Baspa hydro project on July 9 or 10 and also address a public meeting at Rekong Peo in Kinnaur district.
Bureau Report