Page: 1/2
Dated: May 15, 1999
Respected
Congress President,
It
is with a deep sense of responsibility,
and an overwhelming sense of
concern that we write to you.
The founders and the leaders
of the Congress party like your
eminent grandfather-in-law had
always encouraged a tradition
of free and uninhibited exchange
of views amongst congressmen.
They have built the foundation
of Indian democracy on the four
pillars of liberty of opinion,
freedom of expression, responsibility
of action and above all nation
before self. We believe we are
being true to these ideals in
placing our views before you.
Madam
President, we belong to a generation
which had the good fortune to
have, as role models, people
like. Mahatma, - Gandhi,Pt..,.
Nehru, Maulana Azad, Subhash
Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel, Lal
Bahadur
Shastri and Indira Gandhi. It
is under
their tutelage that we learnt about
the value of, sacrifice, and
the intensity of national, pride.
They taught us to be Indian first
and Congressmen next. Your family
has, more than once, made the
supreme sacrifice to uphold these
ideals.
After
the demise of Rajivji, the party felt
orphaned. Like most orphans, its condition
deteriorated. With. the slow decline
of the Congress Party, the forces
of communalism, violence, and fundamentalism,
which would divide and break the country,
grew from strength to strength. As
a result the country plunged from
crises to crises. The last three years
have seen more political, social economic
turbulence in this country than the,
previous 46., Right thinking people
were leaving the Congress. The poor,
the underprivileged, the minorities
and the youth were disillusioned with
the party.
It
was at such a bleak time Madam, that
some Of us came to you. We had all
watched with respect and admiration,
the great dignity with which you and
your children bore the series of blows
that life dealt you. We also sensed
the "genuine affection and care
that you had for Congressmen and the
Congress Party. At this critical juncture
in the party's life we came to you
and requested you to take over the
reins of the party. We felt that the
real respect the Congress party had
for your family would rejuvenate the
Organisation. And we are not wrong.
Your, presence in the party gave it
new life. The disintegration stopped.
Congressmen Started returning to the
fold.
For
the past months, we have observed
the maturity and dignity you have
brought to the high office of the
Congress president. You have kept
the fold together, consulted with
senior colleagues and motivated the
youth, Through all this ran a clear
purpose that the party so cherished
by your family did not perish. Such
selflessness is not new to India,
and this ability to put the party's
interest above yourself gave us hope
and strength.
With
clarity of purpose you concentrated
on the party without getting
involved in the political battles
fought on the ground and on
the floor of Parliament. Despite
tremendous pressure, you resisted
the temptation to fight elections.
Both at the AICC session in
Delhi and at Panchmarhi, you
very rightly reminded us that
keeping the party strong and
vibrant was as important as
running a government. When
the fractured outcome of the
general elections were out,
you and the party accepted
the verdict of the people of
India that the Congress party
had not fully lived up to their
expectations. Other political
parties were given a chance
to take this great country
forward. At all times you intuitively
understood and respected the
often unstated wishes of the
Indian people.
However,
of late we have noticed what
we hope is only a temporary
aberration. We believe that
this is the work of a few self
seeking individuals, we pray
that you are able to disengage
yourself from,such minds. Soniaji
you have lived as a daughter-in-law
to India for the past 30 years.
You have, in your own way,
absorbed much of this great
country's spirit. You are in
the line of many non Indians
who have loved-and adopted
this country and worked for
its benefit. The Congress party
which you now lead was the
brainchild of a Scotsman, Sir
A.0. Hurne. The seat you occupy
has once adorned by Annie Besant.
It is in this selfless tradition
that we see your services to
the party and the nation.
Madam
President, India is a country
with a history and tradition
going back for 1 000's of years.
It is a confident culture and
a proud nation. Above all it
is a country which is self
sufficient in every sense of
the word. India has always
lived in the spirit of the
Mahatma's words "Let the
winds from all over sweep into
my room" but again he
said "I will not be swept
off my feet". We accept
with interest and humility
the best which we can gather
from the North, South, East
or West and we absorb them
into our soil.
But
our inspiration, our soul,
our honour, our pride, our
dignity, is rooted in our soil.
It has to be of this earth.
Soniaji you have became a part
of us because you have all
along respected this. We therefore
find it strange that you should
allow yourself to forget it
at this crucial juncture. It
is not possible that a country
of 980 million, with a wealth
of education, competence and
ability, can have anyone other
than an Indian, born of Indian
soil, to head its government.
Some
of us have tried to initiate
and open broader discussions
on this issue within the party.
It is an issue which. affects
not just the security, the
economic interest and the international
image of India, but hits at
the core pride of every Indian.
Unfortunately this initiative
has been thwarted at every
stage.
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