NEW DELHI: In a categorical statement on Fecb.1, the Congress (I) ruled out the possibility of the party high command reconsidering the dissenters demand to convene the next AICC (I) meet before the budget session.
Saying that the AICC(I) meet would be held only in the first week of March as decided by party president P.V. Narasimha Raoparty spokesman, Chandulal Chandkar, expected the venue and the latest of the meet to be announced shortly.
The import of Chandrakars’ assertions is that it comes a day after Arjun Singh, Union Minister for human resource development, extended his support to the dissenters demand for an Carly AICC(I) meet. Rejecting the demand foranearly AICC (I) meet, Chandrakar explained that the holding of the AICC(I) meet after the budget session would be beneficial as it would provide the leaders an opportunity to discuss all the issues threadbare, including the budget. Asked to comment on Arun Singh’s suggestion for an amendment legalizing ban on political parties who exploit religion for electoral gains, Chandrakar said: “Such a provision already exists and it is not possible to contest an election on communal lines.”
He cited the disqualification of 16 legislators/cooperators by the Bombay High Court.
Asked if he disagreed with Arjun Singh’s view, Chandrakar replied in the negative on the plea that “I do not know what exactly he wants.”
The prime minister, he added, must be giving proper attention to the senior minister’s letter.
On the dissident’s demand that the prime minister give up the pot of party president, Chandrakar evaded a direct reply, saying it was the opinion of a section of the party.
He said the Congress (I) was generally sticking to the principle of one man one post, with a few exceptions.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 5, 1993
