New Delhi: Prime Minister Narasimha Rao said that he would not be opposed to Mrs., Sonia Gandhi “doing anything she wants to do” and the party would endorse her candidature if she chooses to contest the bye election from Amethi.
Tam sure that she wants to do something that is good for the party”, he said in an interview with “Sunday” Weekly adding. They have full confidence in her. What she thinks will be good for the party; will be good for the part.
Asked by interviewers if he in his own capacity would not ask Sonia Gandhi to contest from Amethi, Mr. Rao said he would do whatever the parliamentary board wanted him to do and that he had never done anything in his personal capacity.
In a wide ranging interview, the Prime Minister said there was no concrete proposal for a merger Janata Dal with the Congress and it was for the party to decide on this, and other issues like whether to admit Mr. VBP Singh or Mr. Arun Nehru Mr. Rao did not rule out his running for the president ship of the country in 1992 but said it was a hypothetical question and “I am thinking only of the job I am doing at the moment.”
He said the Congress (I) leader’s demands for dismissal of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar governments had not been considered at the central level, nor had the government decided anything about replacement of the Kashmir governor. The government was in touch with other parties on how to hold election in Punjab, he added.
Mr. Rao denied allegations that Congress I was joining hands with BIP. The party, he said, would take a look at the one man post principle. He appreciated the problems at the state level but did not believe in re- moving chief Minister “right, left, and center.
Asked about the government’s attitude Ambanis move to regain control of Larsen and Toubro, the Prime Minister said “we no attitude either for or against. The institutions themselves are asking the decision, in their own right.”
Asked about the possibility of Congress I and Janata Dal merger, the Prime Minister said “I have not had any proposal for merging any two pretests in the country so far. This happens would be in the realm of speculation and I do not think 1 should respond to any such question as it is hypothetical
- Let me rephrase the question. Would you oppose any merger with the Janata Dal?
- There is nothing like merger per se. If two parties come together, they have 10 find a rationale for coming together. I have not come across any proposal for anything; hitch can be called concrete, suggesting a merger.
Asked if there was room for two centrist parties in the current political scenario, Mr. Rao said it was for the party to decide whether there was room or there was m0, room.” My partly means: My working Committee, my parliamentary board, my AICC and so on.”
So it would not be proper for me to answer without consulting my party and without having a threadbare discussion about the proposal if it comes, when it comes at all levels of the party.
- Would the same apply to individual members of the Janata Dal who seek ad- mission into the congress?
- Individual members from other parties have been seeking other admission into the congress but even then the decisions have been taken by the parliamentary board or the working committee.
“Not yet” the Prime Minister said when asked if the old Jan Morcha leader, Arun Nehru and his supporters had approached him to join the Congress (I).
To a query if he would admit Mr. VP Singh, the Prime Minister replied, “it is not within my power.” “The party might decide”.
About Assam, the Prime Minister explained that the army had to be suddenly inducted because of an “exestuation that had suddenly developed. “We had thought that the normal state government machinery would have been able to do it but suddenly they found they needed the army.”
Asked if the Kashmir governor, Mir. Girish Saxena would be retained, the Prime Minister said, “I think we will have to look at the situation in its totality. The governor is just one part of totality.
We are having a look at the totality and we have not come to any conclusion. So we will see how the governor fits into the totality.
On Punjab, Mr., Rao said government was planning to hold elections there, “I am in touch with other parties. Things are moving.”
Mr. Rao denied the allegation of some political parties that the Congress (I) was joining hands with the BJP saying, “I have denied this time without number”. “I deny it once again.”
Asked how he would respond to demands of Congress leaders and MPS from Bihar and Madhya Pradesh for dismissal of Laloo Prasad and Sunderal Patwa governments, Mr. Rao said.” We have had no occasion Consider those proposals or demands do not see any such occasion. Yes, statements have come but we have not considered it at the central level.
Asked if he would accept the president ship of India when Mr. Venkatara man retires next year. Mr. Rao said “These things are so difficult to answer in advance. Have not planned for my future at any time in my life, I will not do so now.”
- Would you accept the president ship?
- All kinds of hypothetical questions are hurled at me. But am thinking only of the job .i am doing at the moment.
- That does sound as though you are trying not to rule out a move to Rashirepati Bhavan,
- I do not rule out anything, but I don’t work for anything, I don’t run for anything.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 4, 1991
