'Today's expediency can be transformed into tomorrow's base for a permanent structure'
Since 1989, the Congress has consistently lost ground in the
crucial states of UP and Bihar. What do you believe is the reason
for the erosion in the Congress base? Can anything be done now?
And in retrospect did you do enough before the election?
UP and Bihar are not easy to explain --- at least not for me.
They voted against the Congress before 1989 also. My humble observation
is that the Congress vote here was eroded by transfer -- into
different parties with different social composition.
The Congress for some time remained as a respectable residue.
But a comprehensive party cannot survive too long as a residue.
It may be small in size at a given time, but its composition should
still remain comprehensive. This could be termed as the widest
connotation of secularism. The Congress, therefore, is the most
secular party in the real sense.
But as pointed out above, its erosion has resulted in different
socio-political boxes being formed, and given political labels.
None of these is complete like the original Congress. Now a situation
has been reached where no single box can bring power -- given
the numbers game. Combinations of the separate boxes are therefore
being attempted; in other words a centripetal process has started,
for the sake of today's electoral expediency.
But today's expediency can be transformed into tomorrow's base
for a permanent structure. Within a few elections, we have thus
seen the intense dynamism of the socio-political process in UP.
Frankly, I feel fascinated and optimistic. In a rapid cycle of
events such as this, neither we nor any other single party could
do much; nevertheless, the Congress-BSP alliance, apart from its
immediate purpose, is a first step in the long march towards
the secular destination.
The Congress Working Committee has often been asked to consider
issuing a call for all Congressmen and former Congressmen to
come together. Without wishing in any way to pre-empt the CWC's
decision, what would your own position on this issue be?
I am with the CWC, all the way.
Do you think that there is any argument in favour of the position
that the same person should not be leader of the parliamentary
party and Congress president?
There are arguments on both sides, as is well known.
Do you see yourself as leader of the Congress two years from
now?
I see myself as a Congress activist as long as I wish to be.
Will you stand for election as Congress president at the next
party election?
I shall answer this question properly at the appropriate time.
There have been reports that you have offered the post of working
president to various individuals. Would you like to take this
opportunity to deny these reports?
Having a working president or vice-president can be good idea.
For a man who seldom had his integrity questioned for most
of his political career, it cannot be a pleasant experience to
be constantly accused of corruption and cheating in a series of
court cases. Of course, the substance of those cases is sub judice.
But how does Narasimha Rao the man react to the charges of improper
behaviour?
It is a new experience, though excruciating.
The remaining questions fall into two categories?
A) About my government ; and b) about my person.
About the government, I think it is for the people -- and, of course,
journalists, commentators and intellectuals -- to comment, which
they have done copiously. All I would say is, I am grateful.
The second category of personal questions would be more relevant
when I finally call it a day and find myself in a reminiscent
or atavistic frame of mind. As it is, I am still on the move --
and intend to be so. It is not fair to ask me to anticipate the
possible answers to such 'terminal' questions. I hope my reluctance
to answer these questions will be understood in the right spirit.
Of what achievements during your prime ministership are you
proudest?
I am afraid a full term of governmental activity cannot be
dissected into bits and pieces: It is an interrelated whole. It
contains something one feels happy about and something one feels
unhappy about. It is very difficult, in practice, to have the
one without the other. Any such comments generally come from hindsight.
Do you have any regrets? Any unfinished agendas? Anything you
wish you had done differently?
No regrets; an unfinished agenda is a permanent feature, it will
be finished by others. It is futile to think of things I could
have done differently unless I had been another person.
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