BANGALORE — The Janata Dal leader, Mrs. Mancka Gandhi, said here on Thursday that the reports appearing in a section of the press that she was returning to the Congress (I) were baseless.

“I am clear in my mind as of today that I will not go back to the Congress (I),” Mrs. Maneka Gandhi told a press conference.

Mrs. Maneka Gandhi said reports of her joining the Congress (I) centered round a photograph of her with Mrs. Sonia Gandhi which was actually taken

15 years back and such reports appeared every month and “I keep on reading them,” she added.

Answering questions on Janata Dai, Mrs. Maneka Gandhi said the crisis in the party was “more or less over.” And its president, Mr. V. P. Singh should go ahead with the formation of state and other units to make its functioning effective.

Mrs. Maneka Gandhi also regretted that the Janata Dal leadership was succumbing to pressure tactics. It was frightening to realize that those who shouted from top, got away with what they wanted. If this position continued, there would be problem again while distributing seats during the elections.

Referring to the opposition by some Karnataka Janata leaders in the formation of Janata Dal, Mrs. Mancha Gandhi said that the problem in the party in Karnataka could be sorted out if they were left to local leaders and others did not interfere. Even Mr. V. P. Singh should stay away from this, she added.

Some opposition supporters have taken this as proof that Premadasa’s United National Party was behind the JVP violence but other analysts drew different conclusions.

“The security forces have got to key JVP leaders and killed them, in particular their Colombo organizer,” a western diplomat said.

”The 55 percent turnout for the Presidential election reduced the JVP’s credibility. It proved the JVP is not able to disrupt elections on a large scale,” he added.

Premadasa has promised a popular program of alleviating poverty and other spokesman said the JVP might be giving it time to succeed or fail.

However, analysts said the run-up to the general election may see a resurgence of violence law.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 20, 1989