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Sonia attacks Vajpayee govt on Indo-Pak ties
Srinagar, May 30: Launching a blistering attack on the Vajpayee government, Congress president Sonia Gandhi accused it of `vacillating from one extreme to another` with regard to its Pakistan policy but said that her party would continue supporting the Centre on matters relating to national security and cross border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Srinagar, May 30: Launching a blistering attack on the Vajpayee government, Congress president Sonia Gandhi accused it of "vacillating from one extreme to another" with regard to its Pakistan policy but said that her party would continue supporting the Centre on matters relating to national security and cross border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
In spite of its "glaring contradictions" on Indo-Pak ties, the Congress had extended its broad and sustained support to the Centre on matters of national security, cross-border terrorism in J&K and on Indo-Pak relations and "we will continue to do so", she said addressing the Congress chief ministers conclave being held here for the first time.
She said that the NDA government was "lacking clarity, consistency and conviction" on its latest peace offensive and was "vacillating from one extreme to another."
Asserting that Congress had always backed collaboration and contact across political, economic, cultural, educational, sports and other fronts, but was attacked "bitterly" for taking such a stand, she said "we have been vindicated."
"We have all along believed that the doors of diplomacy and the windows of dialogue with Pakistan should always be kept open and active," she said at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Centre amidst tight security.
The meet, being attended by 15 chief ministers of Congress-ruled states is all set to chalk out strategies for the coming elections.
Pointing out that elections to five state assemblies including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi would be held in about six months, she told the meeting that victory in these crucial polls would need a united effort.
"Victory will also depend crucially on coordination between our state governments and our party organsiation and machinery," she said adding, "I am confident that we will overcome the so-called 'anti-incumbency syndrome' and the people of these states will give us a renewed mandate for effective governance.
In her long opening address running into nine pages, Sonia attacked the NDA government on a wide variety of issues like unemployment even as she praised her chief ministers on the law and order front, especially in keeping the VHP 'trishul diksha' functions under control in Rajasthan.
Complimenting Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot for the stand he took on VHP attempts to "disturb communal harmony", she said with elections round the corner, "We cannot afford to relax our vigil for this is exactly the time when the merchants of hate get active to polarise our society.
Making another attack on the Vajpayee government on the issue of employment generation, she said, as far as possible, she had avoided taking a "confrontationist" posture vis-a-vis the Central Government.
"This afternoon I must, however, make an exception in the matter of employment generation. This is one of our principal indictments the BJP-led government," she said.
Citing statistics, she said up to the early part of 1990s, employment growth kept pace with the growth in the labour force. But the situation has worsened in the last five years.
In 1999-2000 and in 2002, there has been an absolute decline in both public and private employment in the organised sector. The planning commission itself estimates that at current trends unemployment rates for youth would increase to 16 per cent by the end of the tenth plan.
The conclave is being attended by 15 chief ministers including Digvijay Singh (MP), Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), Sheila Dixit (Delhi), Amarinder Singh (Punjab), Sushil Kumar Shinde (Maharashtra), Vir Bhadra Singh (HP), Ajit Jogi (Chattisgarh), A K Antony (Kerala) and S M Krishna (Karnataka).
With an eye on assembly elections, the two-day meeting has separate panels deliberating on various issues including law and order, employment, agriculture, economic reforms and governance. It would also review the declaration made at the last conclave at Mount Abu in November last year.
Bureau Report
She said that the NDA government was "lacking clarity, consistency and conviction" on its latest peace offensive and was "vacillating from one extreme to another."
Asserting that Congress had always backed collaboration and contact across political, economic, cultural, educational, sports and other fronts, but was attacked "bitterly" for taking such a stand, she said "we have been vindicated."
"We have all along believed that the doors of diplomacy and the windows of dialogue with Pakistan should always be kept open and active," she said at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Centre amidst tight security.
The meet, being attended by 15 chief ministers of Congress-ruled states is all set to chalk out strategies for the coming elections.
Pointing out that elections to five state assemblies including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi would be held in about six months, she told the meeting that victory in these crucial polls would need a united effort.
"Victory will also depend crucially on coordination between our state governments and our party organsiation and machinery," she said adding, "I am confident that we will overcome the so-called 'anti-incumbency syndrome' and the people of these states will give us a renewed mandate for effective governance.
In her long opening address running into nine pages, Sonia attacked the NDA government on a wide variety of issues like unemployment even as she praised her chief ministers on the law and order front, especially in keeping the VHP 'trishul diksha' functions under control in Rajasthan.
Complimenting Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot for the stand he took on VHP attempts to "disturb communal harmony", she said with elections round the corner, "We cannot afford to relax our vigil for this is exactly the time when the merchants of hate get active to polarise our society.
Making another attack on the Vajpayee government on the issue of employment generation, she said, as far as possible, she had avoided taking a "confrontationist" posture vis-a-vis the Central Government.
"This afternoon I must, however, make an exception in the matter of employment generation. This is one of our principal indictments the BJP-led government," she said.
Citing statistics, she said up to the early part of 1990s, employment growth kept pace with the growth in the labour force. But the situation has worsened in the last five years.
In 1999-2000 and in 2002, there has been an absolute decline in both public and private employment in the organised sector. The planning commission itself estimates that at current trends unemployment rates for youth would increase to 16 per cent by the end of the tenth plan.
The conclave is being attended by 15 chief ministers including Digvijay Singh (MP), Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), Sheila Dixit (Delhi), Amarinder Singh (Punjab), Sushil Kumar Shinde (Maharashtra), Vir Bhadra Singh (HP), Ajit Jogi (Chattisgarh), A K Antony (Kerala) and S M Krishna (Karnataka).
With an eye on assembly elections, the two-day meeting has separate panels deliberating on various issues including law and order, employment, agriculture, economic reforms and governance. It would also review the declaration made at the last conclave at Mount Abu in November last year.
Bureau Report