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Sonia targets government on Kargil, stability

Amberish K Diwanji in Faridabad

Congress president Sonia Gandhi spoke for all of 10 minutes in Faridabad, Haryana, in a speech that is by now familiar to everyone. It had the usual ingredients -- the sacrifices of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, the family's fondness for Faridabad, the government's responsibility for the war in Kargil, stability that only the Congress can provide, and so on.

Harping on Kargil, clearly the Congress party's primary weapon of attack, Gandhi said Faridabad had sacrificed many of its brave sons in the war and offered her condolences and respects. "But I want to ask you, who is responsible for the death of all these brave young men? Who is responsible for letting the Pakistanis intrude into Kargil?" she said.

Gandhi lambasted the government for hogging the credit for the Kargil victory. "Our young men sacrificed their lives, but the government calls it their victory. The government cheated the nation and they are celebrating the Kargil victory," she said, to some applause.

She then moved on to other themes, blasting the Bharatiya Janata Party for its doublespeak. "It is a party that still cannot speak with one voice," she said.

The Congress president also flayed the BJP for changing its allies in Haryana, causing the downfall of the Bansi Lal government and the installation of Om Prakash Chautala as chief minister. But she did not mention the Congress's support to Bansi Lal for a month.

She also dwelt on the need for stability. "In three years, India has had three prime ministers. How long can this continue? People are fed up with the changes and are now sure to vote for a government that will last five years."

Gandhi pointed out that only the Congress had been able to run governments for the full term. "That is why I ask you to vote for the Congress candidate, Chaudhary Zakir Hussain," she said.

"People are turning away from the BJP," she claimed. "Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Goa have all thrown out the BJP and voted for the Congress."

Gandhi denied that her party had forced the mid-term election on the country. "The government fell because of its own instability, because one of its partners pulled out," she explained.

She said the BJP-led government in its one and a half years in power had done little for the country's progress. "The farmers have been ignored; dalits, backwards and minorities have been oppressed," she said.

Strangely, in an industrial town, she spoke about the neglect of farmers. "The Congress party manifesto has special programmes for farmers and we will ensure that their needs are met," she said.

The Congress chief started her speech with the mandatory references to the Dynasty. "Faridabad was especially dear to Jawaharlal Nehru for its industrial estates, while Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were both very fond of the place," she said.

"As part of the family for 31 years, I understand their love for Faridabad. It is here that Mahatma Gandhi was arrested for the first time. It is a city that has always been in the forefront of any struggle, and I ask you to lead the struggle against the present government."

Gandhi spoke in Hindi which by any yardstick was "good" if not excellent, stumbling only occasionally on some difficult words. And though she read out her speech as usual, she looked up from the script often enough and spoke with greater confidence.

The crowd, numbering about 10,000, was at best moderate. But being an industrial township (Faridabad is one of India's largest industrial estates after Kanpur), it is normally difficult to collect large crowds for any rally. And the blazing sun did not exactly help, though relief was provided by a cool southerly wind.

The crowd also seemed strangely subdued. Gandhi appeared not to connect with the people who applauded occasionally, but without enthusiasm. She seemed more a lecturer than an orator. Her entire visit lasted less than half an hour, and her helicopter generated more interest, with everyone craning their necks to see it land in a huge cloud of dust.

Before Gandhi, various local Congress politicians held forth, all on the themes of Kargil as a betrayal of the country and the need for stability.

"Our defence minister was more busy defending his government to bother about the country's defences," said one.

"When even the BJP cannot speak with one voice on important issues, how do you expect the alliance of 23 parties to speak with one voice?" said another.

But the people in the crowd seemed happy with Gandhi. "I will certainly vote for the Congress," said Munshi Lal, who lives in a village near Faridabad. Why? "Because I am a Congress supporter and have always voted for it!"

Said another lady, who refused to give her name: "The village elders will decide whom to vote for, but I will vote for Sonia Gandhi." Why? She simply smiled.

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