HYDERABAD: Minorities in the home state of Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao are eager to believe what Arjun Singh has to say and’ for them, he is more secular-minded and dependable than any other Congress leader. Singh, who is largely perceived to be a potential candidate for Prime Minister Ship, succeeded in portraying an image of a leader capable of meeting the BJ Pled forces of Hindutva, much to the pleasure of the minority.
Without putting it in so many words, Singh hinted that the present Congress leadership was not doing much in this direction.
Such observations gained significance, especially as they came close on the heels of Defence Minister Sharad Pawar’s exit from the Center and speculation that axe would next fall on Singh.
However, Singh ruled out any such possibility when he said:”1 will remain what I am.”
Though Singh’s visit fuelled speculation in political circles, he ‘was coldshouldered by State party leaders. Very few attended the functions he addressed: However, it was not as bad as last year when not a single party worker turned up at the Airport to receive him.
This time, a vocal dissident section of Congress and Youth Congress members welcomed Singh shouting slogans like Arjun Singh tum sangharsh karo hum tumhare saath hein and Desh ka neta kaisu ho, Arjun Singh jaisa ho.”
In an open show of allegiance to Singh, the group arranged an ifiar party at the residence of former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP P Shivshankar. Contrary to expectations, only three party legislatures, two MPs, some former MLAs and MPs and a former minister attended the function.
The only significant face was that of prominent dissident leader Y.S.Rajshekhar Reddy who has the support of 10 MPs and 35 MLAsand it was taken for granted that he was representing his entire camp.
Interestingly, the function was attended by a large number of Muslim intellectuals, academicians and almost all leaders of the Majlis.
Salahuddin Owaisi, who is also an important leader of the Babri Masjid Movement Committee, was present with three of his MLAs.
In their brief speeches, both Shivshankar and Owaisi praised Singh in glowing terms. “We respect Arjun Singh not because he is 4 Minister or because he is in power, He is one of the rare persons who never change their principles. He has spent his whole life in protecting the secular character of the nation,” Owaisi said.
Arjun Singh said: “What has happened in the country and how it has happened everyone knows, I can say only one thing. Homen sankalp lena hai ki hun un tawato ke khilaf ladenge ji Bharai mata ke cangan men bhai ko bhai se ladckar khoon lakiren kheenchna chahten hain.
While at the convocation address of the Dr.Ambedkar Open University he was content (o caution the students and youth against the forces of fundamentalism and obscurantism, at the other functions the politician in him came to the fore.
Ata seminar on ‘The role of minorities and weaker sections in national integration,” Singh caused a flutter when he expressed his dissatisfaction that not much was being done to take the communal and fascist forces head-on.
“If we do not wage a direct war against them now, we will be handing over the country on a platter to them; it is not difficult to fight against them. But we are making it difficult because we do not want to get involved.” The message was not lost on the audience.
There were reports that he remained closeted with Shivshankar and other leaders to discuss the strategy to be adopted at AICC session later this month. Dr.Rajshekhar Reddy said he discussed party affairs with Singh.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 12, 1993
