EDITORIAL he BJP Government led by Shri Narendra Modi has completed a year in Government. For coming to power there was a launch of a media blitzkrieg and no sops were spared to show the future as the brightest if they were to be elected to power. The Slogan of the election was that Shri Modi will bring Acche Din for all in the country. At Tthe conclusion of the first year people have realized that the Acche Din were for Mr. Modi and the BJP, the country was never in consideration. On every claim of Shri Modi there has been a ‘U’ turn. Since the PM is on a foreign tour there is a need to remind the PM about the U turns in the foreign policy. The Foreign policy lessons being taught while in opposition of ‘how dare they’ was abandoned both against China and Pakistan. While Shri Modi was enjoying the swing with the Chinese leadership in Ahmedabad the Chinese forces made encroachments and captured a portion of our borders. On his this trip the map of was shown truncated with Kashmir and Arunachal not as parts of India. The blow hot blow cold relations with Pakistan are self evident. The talks with Pakistan were called off since Hurriyat leaders met the Pak High Commissioner. A usual practice! The Home Minister on the floor of the House said that there is no proof of Dawood being in Pakistan. During elections this was an election promise to bring him back from Pakistan. The whole country was embarrassed. Shri Modi continues to embarrass his nation by his unfound utterances while abroad. He has said that till he came to power Indians were ashamed of admitting their nationality. Modi ji, India has a proud heritage and stands tall in the comity of nations. Indians are a community held in high esteem in the developed world. The one year of Modi ji has insulted the achievements of India and Indians under all the earlier regimes. He came to power telling lies against the ruling party and now wishes to thrive upon these lies. As Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi has been pointing out, the Land Reforms bill which was approved by the NDA when introduced by UPA by thumping the desks in parliament has suddenly become a problem with them. They have introduced changes detrimental to the interests of the farmers. The compensation being offered to farmers due to unprecedented unseasonal rains and hail storms are leading to farmer’s suicides. Where are the Acche Din for the farmers community. When the Price of Crude was 140 US $ the cost of Petrol under the UPA Government was around Rs.70. Now the cost of crude has come close to US $ 50 per barrel but the price of petrol is still around Rs. 70. With every small hike in crude prices comes the increase in petrol prices. Why the difference was not passed on to the using public. Why is the Petrol not selling for Rs. 30? Why did Acche Din not come for the using public?? How can the price come down of commodities? The increase in Service Tax is anyway going to make everything more expensive. The BJP leadership including Modi ji and Rajnath Singh supported by their favorite Baba claimed of knowledge of lacs of crores of black money which they would bring back and distribute amongst countrymen. Crores of people opened bank accounts to avail this bonanza. Now, they claim that they have no knowledge of how much money is there in foreign accounts and where. The Banks are burdened with unproductive accounts which are costing them millions and would reflect as a loss in their balance sheets. Business has been assured to the Insurance sector through banks by introducing schemes which otherwise insurance companies would have been working for. Poor people are asking the bank staff where is the Rs. 15 lacs in our accounts? When can we draw on the amount? Where are the Acche Din that were promised. Never before has there been a Government which can only claim credit for completing the semi finished policies of the previous Government. The only answer to why nothing is happening finishes with a statement we have the mandate of the people. This mandate is not indefinite. It has tenure and time is fast running out. Even as the BJP is busy patting each other’s back, the people of the country are asking: which is the first step to a journey of a thousand miles. It hasn’t been taken so far. The nation remembers with affection on 21st May the 25th Martyrdom Day, of our beloved leader late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi. In true meaning he laid the foundation for the progress of India in the 21st Century. It is his vision which made India the world leader in the field of IT, telecom and Computers. Not only has this provided employment to millions of youth in the country it also opened opportunities for Indians in the developed world. India is seen as a world leader in these fields and respected for its talented youth. We cannot forget his services to the nation and the nation pays its homage to the great leader. The nation also remembers with affection its first Prime Minister of Independent India Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru ji on his death anniversary which falls on 27th May. He was a true nationalist who strengthened the foundations of democracy and peace in the country and the World. He laid the foundation for industrialization by building the public sector. Nehru ji is remembered the world over for his persona and competence. He was the architect of the principles of panchsheel and started the non aligned movement. v Congress Sandesh | 3 | May 2015 Published in Hindi & English

One of the biggest failures of the NDA Government under PM Narendra Modi is that important positions remain vacant in the Government for indefinite period of time. Vacancies to the post of Secretaries to Government in various Ministries remain vacant whereby work in the departments suffers. Then there are arbitrary transfers of important functionaries due to non transparent reasons merely on the whim of the PMO. This is probably due to the excessive control of the PMO EDITOR on all ministries. Dr MEMBERS OF Congress President brought to the notice of the Parliament the unpardonable act THE EDITORIAL BOARD Salman Khursheed of keeping the post of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) for a period of one year. In addition the posts of 3 Information Commissioners also lie vacant. EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Ram Naresh Sinha This lapse lends credibility to the fact that the NDA Government is not serious Rattan Francis MANAGER about tackling corruption, as there is no accountability with the highest offices Kamal Shahu in the country. This is another U Turn of the NDA Government, amongst many EDITORIAL OFFICE Congress Sandesh, others. It is a clear attempt to avoid transparency and subvert the act. Even the All India Congress Committee financial powers of the CIC have been relegated to a Government appointed 24, Akbar Road, New -110 011 secretary. Phone: 2301 9080 Extn: 429 Fax:2301 7047 To add to this the two posts of the Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Lok Email: [email protected] [email protected] Pal are also vacant. The Whistleblowers Protection Act 2011 has not been put in Website:www.congresssandesh.com effect even though it received the assent of the President in May, 2014. PUBLISHER Motilal Vora In the words of the Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi, “all these are Published every month by Motilal Vora instruments to combat corruption and blunting them cast serious aspersions on on behalf of Sandesh Trust, All India Congress Committee and this Governments real intentions.” printed at Chaar Dishayen Printers, Subscription Rates G-40, Sector-3, Noida 201 301 Two Years = Rs.200/- • Three Years = Rs.300/- • Five Years = Rs.500/- Outstation cheques should include Rs.25 extra towards realization charges. Cheques/Demand Draft may be sent in favour of ‘Sandesh Trust’, 24 Akbar Road, -110011

Congress Sandesh | 4 | MAY 2015 Contents Vol. XVII No. 9, May 2015

6 CPP Meet The Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party said, we must take the fight further and expose this government on its other sins of commission and omission

9 In Parliament During the debate on RTI Act in Parliament, Smt. Sonia Gandhi said that the Modi Government must match its words on fighting corruption with action

11 G.K. Reddy Memorial Award Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi presented the G.K. Reddy Memorial Award for journalism posthumously to Editor Vinod Mehta

13 Rahul Gandhi’s Speech Speaking in the Parliament, Congress Vice- President, Shri Rahul Gandhi said that it took us two years to enact the Land Bill and NDA murdered it in a few months GST in expected to broaden the tax base • Nation pays tribute to Rabindranath Tagore – a multifaceted personality 31 15 Viewpoint • Shri Manish Tiwari in his article ‘Koi lauta 32 Real Estate Bill de mere beete hue din’ says that during Congress Vice-President, Shri Rahul Gandhi the past one year Indian currency had a From Archives attacked the Modi Government for diluting Speech of the Congress President at the free fall 22 the Real Estate Regulatory Authority Bill and 82nd Plenary Session of the Congress termed it as ‘Pro-Builder’ Opinion Stateswatch • Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar says in his article • Tributes paid to Dr. Ambedkar 38 Rahul Gandhi’s Visit that for farmers, Rahul walks in Rajiv’s • Congress Vice-President, Shri Rahul footsteps 24 • Blind eye towards people’s problem 39 Gandhi visited Vidarbha and said that it was the worst-ever agrarian crisis • Narrow thinking of BJP exposed 41 16 Tribute • Rahul Gandhi visited Telengana and met • Dr. Shashi Kumar Singh compares 46 the farmers and said that we will stand by Socialism of Jawaharlal Nehru and the the farmers and workers and help them 28 Interview defend their rights 17 Interview of a dedicated Congressman Pages from History 19 • Dr. Shashi Kumar Singh writes that Anand AICC Diary 47 Bhawan was the centre of Independence Opinion Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Dr. in his article – A movement 30 50 challenge or a game changer? says that the Amethi

Congress Sandesh | 5 | MAY 2015 CPP Meet

We must take the fight further and expose this government on its other sins of commission and omission. I count on all of you to take this fight to the people and through their support and strength prevent the Government from pursuing its anti-people programmes and policies: Sonia Gandhi

welcome you all to this meeting. I want to begin by I congratulating all our Party colleagues and workers for making our kisan-khet mazdoor rally of April 19th a resounding success. The response was indeed overwhelming and demonstrates our capabilities when we work together as a team. It has been a huge morale-booster for all of us. The amendments to the 2013 land acquisition law continue to dominate the political discourse. I am happy that Rahul, our colleagues and party workers have taken up this issue forcefully and highlighted the farmers’ distress, both in Parliament and outside. Much has happened since we last met, but one thing has not changed: the government and the Prime Minister remain in full campaign mode, as if the elections were not over. What is worse, for the first time, a has decided to play domestic politics on foreign soil. Just last month, Mr. Modi attacked the UPA and his distinguished predecessor on a visit to France. In Canada he sank to a new low by referring to the UPA in despicable terms. This outrageous remark on foreign soil belittles the dignity of the office he holds and is an embarrassment to the nation. Friends, such petty behaviour does not define us. We in the Congress party are proud of our record and we will continue to fight

Congress Sandesh | 6 | May 2015 CPP Meet

Gujarat has just passed a controversial anti-terror But such centralisation of power is not new for Mr. Modi. Gujarat has law (the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised just passed a controversial anti-terror Crime Bill) that gives draconian powers to the police. law (the Gujarat Control of Terrorism The new law puts the State government, its ministers and Organised Crime Bill) that gives draconian powers to the police. The and officials essentially beyond the purview of the new law puts the State government, legal process. its ministers and officials essentially beyond the purview of the legal with conviction for our ideology, programmes and policies, process. Is this what the BJP and for the future of our country as we always have. government hopes to replicate in New Delhi? Let me ask, what is the reality of the “achhe din” the Prime Let us remember, terrorism has been effectively fought Minister promised? Lower petrol prices? We all know they without such draconian laws. My fear is that such laws will are because of falling international prices, over which they be used to suppress the voice of the people. have no control and for which they deserve no credit. We are already seeing evidence of this. What do they deserve credit for? Government bodies are being populated by men and women They deserve credit for the most anti-farmer legislative whose sole qualification appears to be loyalty to the Prime amendments to our Land Acquisition Bill. They deserve Minister or to his patron organisations. credit for ignoring the severe plight of farmers throughout This government deserves credit for redefining democracy: the country in a show of callous unconcern that has never it is no longer “of the people, by the people, for the people,” been seen before. but a government of some people, by one person, for a They deserve credit for threatening the livelihood of millions select few. of handloom weavers and artisans by their proposed repeal Behind the smokescreen of “development” the government of the Handlooms Reservation Act,’ and thereby also is providing achche din only for crony capitalists. Under the endangering a treasured part of our cultural heritage. pretext of “Make in India” the government is planning to They deserve credit for keeping vacant critical appointments dilute the rights and interests of workers and labourers. Do in the government structure, especially those that have they make nothing in India? independent authority to question the working of the We can give the government credit for transforming our government’s machinery. What is this government afraid nation into a land where every day we hear of places of of? worship of minorities being desecrated. They deserve credit for creating the most centralised The stream of provocative statements from members of government in India’s recent history. Ministers hardly matter. the ruling establishment continues unabated. Incendiary Even the bureaucrats, who are supposedly empowered, feel remarks are often uttered even by Ministers against entire paralysed because all key files are pending in the PMO for communities and institutions of our democracy. decision. The Prime Minister likes to talk of consensus. Yet ignoring convention, this government acts with obstinate Some in the Sangh Parivar want to revoke the voting rights arrogance. I give you two examples, recently government imposed AFSPA As the Modi government completes one year, it in Arunachal without as much as informing the C.M., and they were has very little to showcase. There is no substantial going through with the Bangala Desh economic achievement. As per the Labour Bureau Land Agreement excluding Assam. Such arrogance is also apparent when Survey report, job creation has slowed down. As per forcing its way in the Parliament. Out the PIB, 8 core sectors of the economy have registered of 51 Bills 43 have not been sent to the negative growth. Investment in manufacturing is Standing Committee. falling, and exports have declined.

Congress Sandesh | 7 | MAY 2015 CPP Meet of a community. Others want to erect statues of Godse, the man who murdered the Father of the Nation. Extension of enrolment Yes, we can give them credit for making Indians feel unsafe The Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has on in India and for poisoning the political discourse of our 14th May, 2015 approved the Election Authority of great country. the party has extended the date of enrolment of party And we can give them credit for presenting a budget that members by one more month i.e. from May, 2015 to attacks the heart of the welfare programmes that have 15th June, 2015. sustained the needy and the disadvantaged for years. The revised organizational election schedule will Ooutlays for most such programmes have been slashed, in be announced shortly, according to AICC General some cases by more than half. Secretary, Shri Janardan Dwivedi. The government’s complete lack of commitment to social empowerment is reflected in the sharp reductions in the outlays for the Scheduled Castes and the Tribal Sub-Plans. Systemic efforts are also being made to undermine the creation has slowed down. As per the PIB, 8 core sectors of entire system of food grain procurement. Special status the economy have registered negative growth. Investment for all North Eastern states, Uttarakhand, Himachal and in manufacturing is falling, and exports have declined. Jammu & Kashmir, has been done away with. Many states, Truly the hypocrisy and insensitivity of this government is even BJP-ruled ones, have seen through the game and have breath-taking. The Prime Minister announces grandiose protested. schemes to grab the headlines while the Finance minister denies adequate funds to them and starves critical programmes that benefit the poor We do not disagree that the corporate sector must and weaker sections. At the same time, he announces a generous grow and enterprise must flourish to create jobs and bonanza for the corporate sector: national wealth. But this government appears to favor tax cuts amounting to nearly Rs. a limited set of corporate interests to the exclusion of two lakh fifty thousand crore in the next four years. We do not disagree almost everyone and everything else. India’s future that the corporate sector must grow cannot be built on such unjust foundations. and enterprise must flourish to create jobs and national wealth. But this government appears to favor a This government deserves credit for shattering the nation’s limited set of corporate interests to the exclusion of almost hopes for improved security for women. The Nirbhaya everyone and everything else. India’s future cannot be built Fund has been scrapped. Instead of one Rape Crisis Centre on such unjust foundations. in each of the country’s 660 districts, there will be just 36 in Friends, the challenge to us is very clear. We are faced with total. The budget for the Women and Child Development a government which assaults everything precious that India Ministry has been cut to less than half. And all this by a and the Congress Party stand for. We have to fight back. Prime Minister who launched Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. We have succeeded, I believe, in arousing the nation’s We can give this government credit for strengthening one conscience on the Modi government’s indifference to the man’s power while weakening the strength of the State. The neglect and distress of farmers. We must take the fight BJP has reduced budgets allocations for modernizing the further and expose this government on its other sins of Central police force, that too in the backdrop of increased commission and omission. I count on all of you to take this deadly attacks on our jawans and para-military personnel fight to the people and through their support and strength in Chhattisgarh and other places. prevent the Government from pursuing its anti-people As the Modi government completes one year, it has very programmes and policies. Jai Hind! v little to showcase. There is no substantial economic (Excerpts of the Congress President’s Speech delivered at achievement. As per the Labour Bureau Survey report, job CPP on 6th May 2015)

Congress Sandesh | 8 | May 2015 In Parliament House

Sonia Gandhi takes on Modi Government on ‘Deplorable Lapses in RTI Act. The Government must match its words on fighting corruption with action : Sonia Gandhi

PM made many promises ON APPOINTMENT OF CENTRAL INFORMATION to the people on COMMISSIONER transparency and good governance. adam Speaker, I bring to the attention of this House and the MGovernment the deplorable lapse of the Government in not In a blatant u-turn, his appointing the Chief Information Commissioner. This post has been lying vacant for more than eight months resulting in a virtual standstill in the government, through functioning of the Central Information Commission established by the the absence of a CIC has made sure that the highest offices are not accountable under the RTI Act.

Information delayed is information denied. This is simply not acceptable.

Government has shown UPA through the landmark RTI Act. a deplorable lack of In addition, the posts of three Information Commissioners in the CIC interest in punishing have been vacant for almost a year. I would like to point out that the UPA Government had ensured that the crucial post of the Chief Information people responsible Commissioner was never vacant from the day the RTI came into force. for delays in public The Prime Minister in the election campaign last year made many fervent promises to the people about transparency and good governance and services. continues to do so.Yet today in a blatant U turn, this Government has made sure through the absence of a CIC that the highest offices of power, Government is setting such as the Prime Minister’s Office, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Supreme out to systematically Court, the High Courts, the C&AG, the Ministry of Defence and other important Ministries are not accountable for violations under the RTI Act subvert the functioning and are protected from wider public scrutiny. of the RTI Act. Madam Speaker, this points to a clear attempt to avoid transparency and

Congress Sandesh | 9 | MAY 2015 In Parliament House

subvert the Act. The RTI is landmark legislation and its intent was to A Report enhance Government’s accountability New Delhi: Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi sharply attacked Prime and responsibility. It is through this Minister Narendra Modi and his government in Parliament and outside very legislation that millions were on 6th May, 2015 speaking on Adjournment Motion for the purpose of empowered to ask questions from their discussing a definite matter of urgent importance. Government about how schemes and public works are being implemented In a statement in the LokSabha, Smt. Sonia Gandhi criticized what she and how public authorities are called the “deplorable lapse” in not filling key posts, including that of functioning. Now, do our citizens the Chief Information Commissioner, which has been vacant for eight no longer have the right to question months. their Government? Multiple reports Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi directly targeted PM Modi, saying, in the public domain make clear “The PM in the election campaign made many fraudulent promises about that more than half the Information transparency. And continues to do so. In a blatant U-turn , his government, Commissions in the country lack through the absence of a Chief Information Commissioner, has made sure adequate infrastructure causing long that the highest offices are not accountable under the RTI Act.” delays in the disposal of cases. The Outside the Parliament House She later told reporters: “I stand by founding premise of the Right to every word I said and at this point the government has no answer. The Information was that citizens should government can scrap the RTI.” not struggle with inordinate delays. Yet, the Government admitted in an Congress Vice President, Shri Rahul Gandhi was with her. “This earlier part of this Session that over government wants to end all institutions. The PM wants to end every 39,000 cases remain pending. institution,” he said. Madam, Speaker, information delayed This morning, Mrs Gandhi strongly attacked PM Modi for criticizing is information denied. This is simply previous governments during his visit to Canada last month. not acceptable. The Government “This outrageous remark on foreign soil belittles the dignity of the office has also shown a deplorable lack of he holds and is an embarrassment to the nation,” Smt. Sonia Gandhi said interest in punishing those responsible v for delays or admitting to lapses in the “Such petty behavior does not define us.” delivery of public services. Protecting the wrong-doer cannot be part of any Government’s ethos. Furthermore, on The unavoidable conclusion from Presidential assent in May, 2014. This March 11, 2015, the DOPT, which is all these are that the Government is Act is essential to safeguard whistle under the PMO’s control, transferred setting out to systematically subvert blowers who are extensive users of the financial powers of the CIC to the functioning of the RTI Act and the RTI Act. All these are instruments a Government appointed Secretary. shield itself from public scrutiny to combat corruption and blunting Such a post has no mention in the and accountability. This is not all. It them cast serious aspersions on this original RTI Act. The Act places all is pertinent in this context to ask as Government’s real intention. financial and administrative powers to why the two posts of the Central Madam Speaker, the Government in the hands of an independent CIC. Vigilance Commissioner and the must match its words on fighting There is no provision in the Act that Lokpal remain vacant till date. This corruption with action. Through you, allows the Government to take over Government has shown extraordinary I would like to urge that these vacant the Commission’s functioning in the urgency in introducing many posts be filled, RTI requests dealt with absence of a CIC. Madam Speaker, this legislation, yet the Whistle Blower’s as they should be and the oversight action is a brutal blow to the autonomy Protection Act, 2011 has not yet been process of the Government not be v of the CIC. put in effect even though it received there any longer.

Congress Sandesh | 10 | May 2015 Award Ceremony

G. K. Reddy Memorial National Award presented posthumously to Vinod Mehta Sonia Gandhi urges journalists to fight bigotry fearlessly

on 9th May 2015 at Jawahar Bhawan Auditorium, New Delhi

am happy to be with I you all as you honour Vinod Mehta with the GK Reddy Award. There have been few journalists in independent India who had the ability and reputation of GK Reddy. He was a stalwart among his peers, a man who not only practiced his profession with integrity and dedication, but one and writer. and, indeed his cynicism all this made who had the pulse of our nation and him most engaging. Underlying these What was it that made Vinod Mehta its political life. were qualities that gave his writings so compulsively readable on even the and his opinions credibility, integrity, Today, more than ever before, we feel most complex issues and subjects, and independence and freedom from the need for journalists like him. so sought after as a TV commentator? dogma. He encouraged, and often His trademark irreverence, wit Throughout his working life, Vinod provoked, debate and dissent in all the and self-deprecation, his lack of Mehta too was a passionate upholder journals he edited. pretension, pomposity and hypocrisy, of our democratic and secular ideals. He was also a courageous crusader for the causes that he believed were just, and a proud and eloquent advocate She hailed the media for being brave to criticize the of our pluralistic society. He had an government in power. Referring to Mehta’s claim in instinctive understanding of what the freedom of the press meant to his autobiography Boy that journalists and our country that it is a cornerstone politicians could not be friends, Smt. Sonia Gandhi of our democracy, and that without said, “But he would have been surprised that how this freedom, all our other liberties would be threatened. It was a belief many of us across the political spectrum looked to that defined all his work as an editor VM as a friend.”

Congress Sandesh | 11 | MAY 2015 Award Ceremony

On issues and subjects where he was convinced the public had a right to know, he stood firmly by his convictions and was willing to pay the price, proudly describing himself as “the most sacked editor.” Vinod Mehta sought no favours and he gave none. He never failed to raise his voice against religious intolerance, communal violence and social injustice. He sympathized with the disempowered and was not A Report Gandhi noted that “he has never failed to in awe of the rich and powerful. New Delhi: Congress President Smt. raise voice against religious intolerance, This is why his words carried Sonia Gandhi on 9th May, 2015 launched communal violence and injustice”. weight. And that is why, even a veiled attack on the Narendra Modi- The award carries a cheque of Rs 5 when he criticized the Congress led NDA government at the Centre, lakh, a GOLD medal and citation. Dr. Party, as he often did, we took it saying that “dissent is being stifled and Subbarami Reddy, while welcoming the constructively. minorities feel increasingly insecure”. guests, said late G.K. Reddy was India’s In the present climate, when The Congress President was speaking finest journalist before and after India’s dissent is being stifled, when at the programme organised to hand- Independence and fearlessly informed the minorities feel increasingly over the G.K. Reddy Memorial National the country on various issues, including insecure, when the secular Award announced to late Vinod Mehta, foreign affairs. a renowned journalist, which was fabric of our society is Dr Reddy recalled that late G.K. accepted by his wife Smt. Sumita Mehta, threatened, when bigotry and Reddy worked for various newspapers, at a function in Jawahar Bhavan in New obscurantism seem to flourish including Blitz, , The Delhi. unchecked, we miss Vinod Hindu. “Even Dr. was Mehta’s voice. I am confident, In her brief speech, Congress President, among those who read late G.K. Reddy’s however, that our fine younger Smt. Sonia Gandhi said, “In the present articles,” he said. Dr Karan Singh generation of journalists will climate, when dissent is being stifled, also recalled the contribution of late take inspiration from his life, when the minorities feel increasingly G.K. Reddy and said that he fearlessly and fight the battles that he insecure, when the secular fabric of reported from Pakistan at the time of would have fought, with the our society is threatened, when bigotry Partition and threw light on how the Pak same courage and fearlessness. and obscurantism seem to flourish government was involved in the invasion There is a line in Vinod Mehta’s unchecked, we miss Vinod Mehta’s of Kashmir. Dr Reddy told the audience memoir, ‘Lucknow Boy’, in voice,” Smt. Sonia Gandhi said. that among the previous recipients of the which he says that politicians She hailed the media for being brave awards were Prabhu Chawla, Shekhar and journalists can never be to criticize the government in power. Gupta, N. Ravi, Aroon Purie and other friends, that they are natural Referring to Mehta’s claim in his The function was attended by former adversaries. I think he would autobiography Lucknow Boy that Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, have been surprised to discover journalists and politicians could not be Senior Congress leader Dr Karan Singh, how many of us, across the friends, Smt. Sonia Gandhi said, “But former Union Minister. Congress leader political spectrum, looked on he would have been surprised that how and Rajya Sabha MP, Dr T. Subbarami Vinod Mehta as a friend a many of us across the political spectrum Reddy, who is the founder of the TSR friend with who we may have at looked to VM as a friend.” Foundation, and Senior Congress times disagreed, but whom we She lauded Mehta’s integrity, honesty leaders and party workers was also respected and admired. v v and commitment to values. Smt. Sonia presents.

Congress Sandesh | 12 | May 2015 In Parliament House

DISAPPROVAL OF RIGHT TO FAIR COMPENSATION AND TRANSPARENCY IN LAND ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION AND RESETTLEMENT (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE AND RIGHT TO FAIR COMPENSATION AND TRANSPARENCY IN LAND ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION AND RESETTLEMENT (AMENDMENT) SECOND BILL – Contd.

‘Took Us 2 Years to Enact Land Bill, NDA Murdered it in a Few Months,’ Says Rahul Gandhi

peaker Madam, I would like to say something on the land Bill… I want to say little on the land SBill, little because Naiduji has said that little should be spoken. Discussion will start soon, therefore I will speak little. Because I also respect your words. Around two year’s time was taken to bring the Land Bill and the NDA Government within a few days has murdered that Bill. The first blow was here on the neck the consent clause, which is the most important clause. We had said that if the land would be acquired from the poor people, from the farmers, from the farm labourers, then it would be taken only after his permission. But you said that we will farmer, labourer goes and if there is no your Finance Ministry said that eight not ask them, if we snatch the land progress on the project on that land out of hundred projects were pending then it would be snatched without for five years, and if the project does for want of land. The Government of asking them. It does not make any not even start, then that land has to be India has land, the state government difference as to who is the farmer. returned to the farmer. This too has has land. Around 40% of land is lying been struck in the new bill. vacant in the SEZ (Special Economic The second blow, when you cut the Zone). But you want their land. Why Now, what will happen? Whether neck and the body fell down, then you do you want to snatch the land of the the project starts or not, it may take struck the second blow and said that farmers? The government has got ten years, it may take 20 years or it Social Impact Assessment will not be enough land then why do you people may take fifty years, now, the farmer done. We in the UPA said that the want to have their land? This I want will not get his land back. The Modi Social Impact Assessment has to be to clarify. there, it should be found, who bore Government seems to be in a hurry to the loss, who suffered the impact after pass this bill. Somebody has filed an Speaker Madam, land is not acquired the acquisition of land? You said that RTI. He asked your Finance Ministry in , land is not acquired there was no need of it. They said that as to how many projects are pending in the deserts of . It is there was no need of the Social Impact because of non-availability of land? We acquired near the cities like Gurgaon Assessment. Then you struck the third had thought that it should be around and Noida and places close to Pune. blow. We had said. That if the land of 80% maybe around 70 percent but Because the price of land here is continued on page 18 Congress Sandesh | 13 | MAY 2015 In Parliament House Rahul Gandhi urges Modi Government to start procurement of grains from the mandis and reduce the pain of the suffering farmers

peaking at the ‘Zero Hour’ in the on 29th A report SApril, 2015, Shri Rahul Gandhi said, Yesterday I had gone to Punjab and met farmers and farm labourers Rahul Gandhi Attacks PM Modi, Suggests there in the mandis (grain market). I want to place their pain and grief before you. He Visit Punjab While ‘Visiting India’ New Delhi: Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi made He said, they are crying there in the mandis. Their another jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29th April, hearts are filled with pain and the Agriculture Minister 2015 in Parliament, this time on his visits abroad, when he said, of says that a farmer who commits suicide, is “The PM is visiting India, let him also visit Punjab and see the a coward. When the hail-storm came, your government situation for himself.” did not help the farmers. Farmers tolerated it. They used to get bonus, that has been abolished. The farmers tolerated it. Fertilizer was not given, they were lathi- charged, farmers tolerated it. Now, their grains which are lying in the mandis, is not being procured. Your government says that there should be Make in India. It is our government, it is your government but it is not the government of the farmers or the farm-labourers. Your Prime Minister! our Prime Minister is touring India. For some time he has come here. He should go to Punjab for some time, meet the farmers, go in the mandis and talk. He would straightaway come to understand as to what is happening. Madam Speaker, does the farmer not practice Make in India? The farmer who gives grains to India, is it not Make in India? Or it is something else. Fresh from his tour of Punjab’s grain markets on 28th April, I had said so earlier that it will benefit you. If you 2015, Shri Gandhi used his third intervention in the post- procure the grains from the mandis, the benefit will recess Budget Session to highlight the grievances of farmers, be yours if you give compensation to the farmers for pointing out that the government’s failure to procure from their loss, it will not benefit us. I once again want to say farmers was adding to their plight aggravated by unseasonal here that you immediately do the procurement in the rains, inadequate compensation, and non-payment of bonuses. mandis and reduce the pain of the farmers. In Punjab’s grain markets where he met farmers distressed at the slow purchase of their produce, said in another swipe, (extracts of Shri Rahul Gandhi’s Speech in Parliament.) continued on page 21

Congress Sandesh | 14 | May 2015 In Parliament House

Rahul Gandhi Attacks Government Over ‘Pro-Builder’ Real Estate Bill

New Delhi: Congress Vice President, Shri Rahul Gandhi has doing against farmers and tribals, it is also doing against accused the government of being ‘anti-middle class’. Now, the middle class”. Shri Rahul Gandhi has turned his focus on the Real Estate “I have assured them that the way I stand with farmers and (Development and Regulation) Bill, which he has alleged tribals I stand with them also,” he told reporters. favours builders over consumers. Firing yet another salvo at the Narendra Modi Government, Congress Vice President One of the home buyers who had met Shri Rahul Gandhi, Shri Rahul Gandhi on 2nd May, 2015 claimed it had diluted said that she had booked a flat in Noida but the possession provisions of Real Estate Regulatory Authority Bill making was now delayed by several years. Explaining her problem, the legislation pro-builders from being pro-buyers. She said that she not only had to ensure payment of EMI, but also the rent of the house where she was living. After meeting several NCR flat buyers at the Congress Party Headquarters, the Congress Vice President, who has been “The builder is neither paying any penalty, nor is he listening attacking the Centre over land bill issue and the plight of to us,” she said. Other people who also had booked flats said farmers, said that he had learnt that it is not just farmers and that they were under tremendous pressure as they had put tribals but also the middle class people that are “suppressed” in their hard earned money in projects which were delayed on matters related to land. for several years. Assuring homebuyers that he would stand by them, Shri another flat owner, said, “It allows builders to deposit only Rahul Gandhi said that it was due to lack of transparency, 50 per cent of the money collected from prospective buyers the buyers were left in a quandary. in an escrow account as against 70 per cent in the UPA bill, which means builders can misuse buyers’ money or spend “They are told that you will get the flat on a particular day in other projects.” but for years they don’t get the flat. They are told the super duper area of the flat would be so much but what is delivered Those who met Shri Rahul Gandhi said he had assured is different,” he said. them that his party would increase pressure on the Centre to roll back some of the proposed amendments to the law He further said that someone was promised that the flat the UPA had introduced two years ago, while in power. will have a good view, but a few months after the flat was delivered, another building came up and the view was Former Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) blocked. Minister and Congress leader Ajay Maken also attacked the BJP-led NDA government saying it had made “118 Shri Rahul Gandhi said the government was trying to amendments” to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority Bill destroy the Bill which Congress led UPA had brought to which had been brought by the earlier government. regulate the real estate sector. He said the intention of the Bill was to protect and support “Main dilution is that there was clear transparency. The the buyers but the government had overturned it entirely carpet area that you sign is what would be given. They have through these amendments. The Congress is now set diluted and from pro-buyer, made it pro-builder,” he said. to demand that the bill be sent to a select committee for Attacking the government, Shri Gandhi said, “What it is review. v

Congress Sandesh | 15 | MAY 2015 Congress Vice President’s Visit - Maharashtra

Rahul Gandhi walks 20-km in scorching Vidarbha heat Worst-ever agrarian crisis in Vidarbha: Rahul Gandhi

ongress Vice President Shri Rahul them performed ‘aarti’ when the Dhamangaontaluka and gave a patient CGandhi, who has amplified his Congress vice president passed by hearing to the farmers who narrated tirade against the Narendra Modi their houses even as some women their woes. government over farmers’ issues, on drew ‘rangolis’ to welcome him. Undertaking the yatra in Amravati, 30th April, 2015 braved the sweltering Four farmers committed suicide since which has recorded an appalling 295 heat when he strode the distance of January in Tonglabad village, where farmer suicides already this year, 20-km as part of his ‘kisanpadyatra’ in he concluded his yatra. The family of Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Amravati district to interact with the Manikrao Thavkar was overwhelmed Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi kin of farmers who have committed by Shri Rahul Gandhi’s visit. “He heard government of working for select suicide due to agrarian crisis. us like he belonged to our family. We capitalists at the cost of farmers. During his day-long ‘padyatra’, Shri feel very privileged that Shri Rahul He said the BJP government in Rahul Gandhi visited five villages and Gandhi visited our humble dwelling. Maharashtra had abandoned farmers. met family members of at least nine At least someone is listening to us,” “Some people say that only three farmers who have killed themselves. said Sindhu, widow of Thavkar. suicides have been reported from ShriRahul Gandhi began his Congress Vice President was followed Maharashtra. Someone in Haryana ‘sanvadpadyatra’ from Gunji village by a huge contingent of Congress said farmers forced to commit on 30th April morning, and many workers, including members of the suicides were cowards, and the State people were seen lined up on roads Youth Congress, and they found it government would not help cowards. at Kondhali and Talegaon villages to difficult to match his pace. I want to tell farmers in Maharashtra, greet the Congress leader. don’t lose heart. We will stand with Accompanied by AICC General you. We will fight for you,” Shri Congress Vice President, Shri Rahul Secretary and former Union minister Rahul. Gandhi told presspersons at Gandhi visited five villages between , local MLA Shri Tonglabad. Gunji to Tonglabad, wherein he spoke Virendra Jagtap, and others, Shri to people who greeted him and sought Rahul Gandhi also visited the newly- Shri Rahul Gandhi was also joined to know their problems and the issues built Buddha Vihar in Shashpur in his padyatra by MPCC President affecting them. village. Ashok Chavan, opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, local At some places, villagers were seen He squatted on a mattress at a MLAs, state Youth Congress president waiting with garlands and some of Hanuman temple in Hirapur in Vishwajeet Kadam and other leaders. v

Congress Sandesh | 16 | May 2015 Congress Vice President’s Visit - Telangana

Rahul Gandhi’s 15-km Telangana padyatra to focus on farmers’ woes

Rahul Gandhi attacks KCR, calls him ‘Mini Modi’ AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who is on a padayatra in Telangana, has termed chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao “Mini Modi” and said both the Modis had failed to address the farmers’ problems. He said, “The need for a padayatra would not have occurred if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ‘Mini Modi’ had helped farmers and met them when they were facing problems.” Addressing a public meeting here at Vadyal at the culmination of his Hyderabad: Congress Vice President On his arrival in the afternoon, Shri Rahul Gandhi will embark on a 15- Rahul Gandhi briefly interacted with km long padyatra in Adilabad district student leaders of Osmania University of Telangana on 15th May, 2015, here, who have been agitating on highlighting the woes of farmers over employment issues. which he has taken tenaciously on the Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Narendra Modi government at the Gandhi met and consoled the families Centre. of farmers who have committed suicide The Congress Vice President Shri due to agrarian distress in Telangana Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Telangana as a and console them. Later he interacted morale booster to party’s rank and file with farmers at Koratikal village as he is visiting the state for the first As many as 936 farmers have time since its bifurcation from Andhra committed suicide in the Telangana Pradesh on June 2, 2014. region during recent times, according Shri Rahul Gandhi’s visit is to primarily to the reports. focus on the plight of the farmers.

Congress Sandesh | 17 | MAY 2015 Congress Vice President’s Visit - Telangana

Shri Rahul Gandhi said industrialisation should be integrated with agriculture and noted that 40 per cent of land acquired for SEZs were still lying vacant. He equated land to gold and said that it will acquire more value in future if farmers keep it with them and said the Modi government wanted to snatch lands from the farmers. He said farmers badly need support and help from governments when they faced natural calamities and recalled that the Congress had announced special packages when there was a drought in Maharashtra and Bundelkhand. v

continued from page 13 ‘Took Us 2 Years to Enact Land Bill, NDA padayatra, Shri Rahul Gandhi criticised the Prime Minister Murdered it in a Few Months,’ Says Rahul and the Telangana state chief minister and said that both Gandhi the governments were working only for a few close to them. escalating faster. Farmers of India, there is gold under your He added that he would have had no objections if Shri feet and they want to snatch that gold from you. The land Modi and Shri Rao had worked for all, including farmers, which is selling for lakhs today, which you sell in acres, that workers and the poor, along with industrialists. Shri Rahul land will be sold in crores five or ten years later, you will Gandhi asked the people who attended the meeting whether be sold in square foot. In ten year’s time, in 15 years, in 20 anyone among them had got a job with the Central or state years your children may get ten crores, twenty crores, Rs. governments though both the governments had completed 50 crores for that land. But this government does not want a year. to give it to you. This government wants to give that land to their industrialists’ friends, to their crony capitalists. He alleged that Mr Modi was running the government to This government is anti-farmer and anti-poor. This is the benefit five or six industrialists close to him and those who government of Suit-boot and the Minister is smiling. I can accompanied him during his tours to other countries. He see the minister is watching this side and smiling, because alleged that Shri Modi was forgetting farmers, workers and at one time they were standing with us and they were saying the poor. what I am saying. But today, they are sitting on that side, “We will stand by farmers and workers and help them defend so by looking at them we have to smile. Senior leaders are their rights,” Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi sitting by their side. Sushma Ji is there. Advani Ji is there, said, adding that the BJP government had removed all the Rajnath Singh Ji is there and if I can remember properly they three important safeguards provided to farmers in the Land used to sit here and when we passed that Bill, they clapped. Acquisition Bill 2013 brought out by the UPA government. They supported the same Bill. But today, I do not know why He made it clear that the Congress was not against they are opposing it. There can be two reasons. One, that in development, but it should not be a free-for-all capitalism reality their hearts must have changed, secondly, they are like what Shri Modi was promoting. feeling afraid that they may not speak adversely, otherwise they would get caught. The price of land is rising and the benefit should go to the farmer, but you people of the ruling party want that the benefit should go to your friends. We want to tell you, this will not happen so easily. If we cannot stop you here then we will stop you on the roads. Will stop you by going on the road. Some time ago an economist had come to me. He was working on Soviet Union. He said that I used to think that thief comes in the night, they hide and come, they come by jumping in from the windows but I came to know that the biggest thieves comes in broad daylight, come in front of everyone and come wearing suit. v Excerpts from Shri Rahul Gandhi’s speech in Lok Sabha in Parliament on 29th April, 2015.

Congress Sandesh | 18 | May 2015 opinion

Goods and Services Act A Challenge or a Game Changer?

If taxation at the top of the social to either states or the Centre, needs to two percentage hierarchy were to become more be determined. It was pegged at 27 per points. regressive in the future, the impact cent but needs to be recalculated after Jaitley may on the dynamics of wealth inequality some goods were kept out of the GST. have to strike a would likely be significant, leading to a States have also got power to levy 1 per balance between very high concentration of capital. cent extra tax for the first two years. meeting the Thomas Piketty The GST will subsume central excise, demand of state service tax, state VAT, entertainment governments and he GST is expected to add 1-2 Dr M Veerappa tax, octroi, entry tax, luxury tax and preventing further per cent to the GDP by creating Moily T purchase tax. distortion of GST’s a national market for goods and architecture by removing distortions caused by Tamil Nadu wants full compensation excluding more products from the multiple indirect taxes levied by the for five years of tax loss and petroleum purview of the proposed tax. Centre, States and local bodies. products totally out of GST. The current bill provides for declining In the meeting, states such as Haryana First proposed by the erstwhile UPA compensation over five years and and Punjab opposed a proposal government, the tax was to be rolled includes petroleum but the exact date to subsume purchase tax in GST, out from April 1, 2010, but the BJP will be decided later. arguing that it will lead to revenue stalled this reform on political reason. losses. A few manufacturing states The NDA now promises that full- At the end of a meeting of state like Maharashtra and Gujarat stressed fledged GST will be implemented finance ministers, Jaitley said a broad the need for levying an additional of from April 2016. The work involved at consensus had emerged among states 1% tax on production beyond two the State-level is enormous and States in support of GST, which he has years stipulated in the constitution should be ready to bite the bullets. in the past described as the single amendment bill. These states have also most important tax reform in post- Questions: demanded that this tax be increased to independent India. The NDA has 2%. · To what extent the states are on clearly taken the U-Turn. board ? The additional 1% tax is to be levied When enacted, GST is expected to on the inter-state supply of goods, · Any month-wise targets fixed ? broaden the tax base, improve export which would be paid to states where competitiveness by removing several · Where is the roadmap ? goods originate, as compensation for tax distortions and create a unified the lost central sales tax revenue in the The question still remains unanswered national market by removing inter- first two years of change to GST. even today. state barriers to trade. The resulting The revenue neutral rate, the GST tax ease of doing business is expected to States such as West Bengal, Mizoram rate at which there is no revenue loss boost national income by as much as and Tamil Nadu demanded that they

Congress Sandesh | 19 | MAY 2015 opinion

be allowed to levy higher taxes on before pushing the Constitution providing comprehensive relief from tobacco and tobacco products, similar Amendment Bill. domestic taxes. Indeed, the extent to to what the amendment bill allows for which these can be accomplished will “Broad consensus on the critical the central government. depend upon the ultimate structure issues should be evolved through and operational details that will States are also seeking a recast of the the empowered committee before emerge. Given the nature of Indian language of the bill, like replacing the the enactment of the bill is taken polity and the fact that the interests of word ‘may’ with ‘shall’ in a provision up,” said M.C. Sampath, Minister for the Union and States in the one hand that talks about compensation for Commercial Taxes and Registration, and those of producing and consuming losses arising from implementation of Tamil Nadu. states on the other do not coincide, it GST. Prashant Deshpande, Senior will not be a flawless GST. Therefore, The constitution amendment speaks Director at Deloitte in India, said the it should only be seen as the next stage of “compensation to the States for suggestions by states arise from their of consumption tax reform and not as loss of revenue arising on account of concerns of worsening fiscal pressures, a “game changer” or the “reform of the implementation of the Goods and be it provisions relating to tobacco or century”. Unrealistic expectations will Services Tax for a period which may purchase tax or fixing a period for only bring despair later. extend to five years”. compensation for losses. The Constitution Amendment Bill Satya Poddar, partner, tax and “The industry would expect to see proposes to add a new Article 246A regulatory policy advisory, at the formation of GST council as early which will enable both the Union and consulting firm Ernst & Young, said as possible to have clarity on the law the States simultaneously levy the tax some of the existing provisions in the which the council is mandated to on goods and services (GST). However, constitution amendment bill, as well recommend. The council should also the tax on inter-state transactions in as the suggestions by states, will defeat give an opportunity to the stakeholders goods and services can be levied only the very purpose of GST. to make suggestions with respect to by the Union government. In the case the industry sectors they represent,” “The main aim of bringing in GST of the Union government, excise duties was to broaden the base, lower the tax The architecture, engineering and on crude oil, motor spirit, high speed rate and remove the cascading effects management aspects of the GST diesel, natural gas, aviation turbine of taxes on inputs. But the additional and the speed at which this can be fuel and tobacco products have been 1% tax proposed in the constitution implemented will unfold as soon kept out of the purview of GST. These amendment bill, as well as the high as decisions on these aspects are commodities will continue to be revenue neutral rate of 27%, that is finalised. This will happen only after subject to Union excise duty. being considered will be a big disaster,” protracted negotiations between the Most importantly, the Bill proposes to he said. Union and the States and among the levy an additional tax not exceeding States inter-se. Revenue neutral rate, or RNR, is the one per cent on the supply of goods tax rate at which there will be no There is no doubt that the introduction in the course of inter-state trade to revenue losses from implementation of GST replacing a plethora of be levied and collected by the Union of GST. Union and State indirect taxes is an government and distributed to the important reform. This is expected to state of origin. This levy will continue “The 1% tax will lead to cascading reduce the costs associated with taxes for 2 years or such other period as the effects, the high RNR will encourage - collection cost, compliance cost and GST Council may recommend. tax evasion and reduce compliance cost in terms of allocative distortions. and more exemptions will narrow the 122nd Amendment to the Constitution This will improve the ease of doing base and increase the tax rate,” he said. as introduced by NDA has brought businesses, enhance efficiency in out fundamental differences from Once the Constitution Amendment the supply chain by obviating the 115th bill of the UPA as against the Bill is passed, the centre and the states need to have branch offices (created consensus to the present amendment will look to pass the model GST bill at to avoid the inter-states sales tax), sought for voting. This will result in the Centre and States. reduce transactions costs by ensuring the Centre vetoing any measure and a Tamil Nadu, in the meeting, said the seamless trade in commodities and mechanism of 12 States can also block centre should evolve a consensus on services across the country and proposal with all 30 participating. In various aspects of GST, like tax rates, improve export competitiveness by the proposed GST council, the Centre

Congress Sandesh | 20 | May 2015 Opinion will have one-third voting power be noted. First, given the nature of continued from page 14 (33.33%) and the States together will Indian polity, there is no incentive to have two-third voting power (66.67%). the states to correct the birth defects Rahul Gandhi urges Modi For any proposal to be cleared by implicit in the proposed GST. The Government to start the council it has to get 75% of the inter-state sales tax is proposed to be procurement of grains vote. This means that anyone who withdrawn only when the GST council from the mandis and reduce has greater than 25% vote can easily decides so and given that every State the pain of the suffering block any measure. Without the gets some money from inter-state trade approval of the Centre nothing can be there is no consistency for abolishing farmers cleared in the GST Council because it. Similarly, there will be no incentive its consent is essential. While UPA to rationalise the taxes on petroleum “Does the farmer not make in India?” amendment sought consensus, NDA products. Many more anomalies are He made a mention of the Haryana amendment brought in contradictions likely to come up and the structure and Agriculture Minister describing and confusion. While UPA measure operational details are worked out by farmers who committed suicide as provided for a grievance redressal the GST Council. Second, it would be “cowards”. mechanism, NDA has done away with too ambitious to presume that all the such an objective and transparent issues relating to the determination Taking a swipe at the Prime Minister measure. of the structure and operation of the Shri Modi, Shri Rahul Gandhi urged tax including the administration, him to tour Punjab while he was A close examination of the present capacity building and application of “visiting India.’’ Constitution Amendment Bill shows technology for GST networking can that structure envisaged is far from be accomplished within the next 11 being flawless. First, the Bill provides Rahul travels second months for introducing GST by April only a minimalist framework for 2016. If indeed, they should be, the class, visits farmers in the levy. The details of the structure Empowered Committee will have to and operation of the tax including grain markets come up with a detailed action plan the exemptions, rate structure and New Delhi: Congress Vice-President with month-wise targets and monitor thresholds will be determined through Shri Rahul Gandhi boarded a train to the implementation mechanism. negotiations in the GST council. Punjab on 28th April, 2015 to connect There is, as yet, no such action plan Second, keeping out petroleum with farmers in distress. in the offing. Finally while GST is an products, and natural gas out of the important reform, it is unlikely to be While his destination was the grain VAT chain will not only cause relative flawless and therefore, will not be a markets in Sirhind, Govindgarh and price distortions due to cascading game changer. We should see this as Khanna in Punjab, Shri Rahul Gandhi’s but also create administrative a process, the next stage of reform and train ride in the general compartment complexities. Both the Union and the continue to improve it upon over time. of Sachkhand Express through the state governments want to continue mid-day provided him to interact with with high tax rates on petroleum It is a huge challenge to implement the toiling masses. products prevailing at present. Third, GST by April 2016. By abolishing the most undesirable compromise is Direct Tax Code the NDA is On Railway station platform Shri the decision to continue with inter- committing big blunder. Direct Tax Rahul Gandhi told media person that state sales tax of one per cent. While Code Bill moved by the UPA is one of “I have been told the condition of the present inter-state sales tax is only the finest documents. This is meant to farmers is very bad. I want to see that on goods, new levy will tax the supply displace outdated and irksome IT Act. myself,” He was accompanied by Shri of both goods and services. This will The GST and Direct Tax Code are best . negate a major gain from the levy of designed architecture to lay down the After interacting with farmers en GST by making the tax partly origin contours of philosophy of taxation. route and at the mandi/markets, based, violating the federal principle NDA with the half-baked GST and Congress Vice President Shri Rahul of providing seamless tax credit and dumping DTC and have committed Gandhi told mediapersons that they v continuing with cascading element in historical blunder. were neither getting an appropriate the tax by denying input tax credit on (The author is a Member of Parliament price for their crops nor any this element. and Senior Congress leader) compensation for the losses. v In this context, three issues must

Congress Sandesh | 21 | MAY 2015 Viewpoint

Koi lauta de mere beete hue din

“There is no clarity about where criterion that help provide a macro otherwise have to the NDA would want to see India overview of any government. Let us suffer the ignominy in 2019. Though the PM has been deploy the same yardstick after 365 days. of being made a fleeting visitor to India in the redundant. There The first is political stability. It is past one year, his trips across the is a storm brewing. imperative to make a distinction world have been more of the meet It is only a matter between legislative stability and political and greet variety than having any of time before it coherence. While the numbers in Lok substance...” makes a landfall. Sabha do provide a degree of comfort n May 16, 2014, a Friday morning, to the government, there is, however, a The wipeout of the Oas results started trickling in, it reality that even Arun Shourie alluded BJP in the Delhi became clear pretty soon that Narendra to that the sum total of this government Assembly elections Modi was headed towards an absolute is only three men in a boat, namely the is a clear manifestation that people majority the first in 30 years after 1984. Prime Minister, his finance minister have moved away from the “three men India’s Rockefeller moment had arrived. and the president of the Bharatiya in a boat”. The “canny” one in the boat Corporate India’s first overt intervention Janata Party. The centralisation that possibly sensed a defeat in Delhi and in the sweepstakes of electoral excludes even the home minister from made Kiran Bedi the unwitting fall lady. democracy had paid off. Bombay Club the all-important Cabinet Committee The next benchmark is social cohesion. version 2.0 popped the champagne. on Appointments he sees files on their This perhaps has been the biggest way down rather than on their way Their war chests and historic print casualty in the previous one year. The up is an alarming tale about how this media domination coupled with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and its government is structured. muscle of 400-odd news channels ideological fellow travelers have left created the blitzkrieg that resulted in Delhi is replete with stories about no stone unturned to medieval India. this windfall. Their decision to back “a how the higher bureaucracy is Every abomination, from “love jihad” man” as opposed to hedging their bets omnipotent and the political executive to “gharwapsi”, from calling minorities across the political firmament, as they read ministers are mere pygmies. second-class citizens to asking Hindu had always done, heralded the most Instructions on important issues are women to procreate more to increase significant power shift in Indian politics. directly conveyed to the secretaries from their demographic numbers, and Euphoria was in the air as the Shangri-La the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), who attacks on places of worship, especially of “achche din” was at India’s doorstep. then processes the papers accordingly churches, is meant to create a fear One year later, on a balmy Saturday and the ministers just sign on the psychosis among the minorities. dotted line. Yet, nothing moves in the morning as you would open this Equally ominous are the systematic government. The emasculation of the newspaper, the ecstasy has all but appointments of ideologically inhibited political executive has dire portents for disappeared. It’s been replaced by a individuals to autonomous bodies with the Westminster Model that is premised weary sense of resignation a sense of the remit of documenting India’s hoary on the supremacy of the Cabinet system being conned, though the sullenness past and saffronisation of education by in governance. that crystallises into cold anger is yet to tampering curricula. This is the most coalesce. Coupled with that is the complete overt assault to change the very narrative On September 4, 2014, in this very marginalisation of the veterans in the of India. BJP, Messers Advani, Murli Manohar paper, in a piece titled Century worth However, the most glaring failure of Joshi, Yashwant Sinha and the rest who a Duck, the first 100 days of the Modi this government has been on the third are trotted out only for photo-ops but government were benchmarked on five benchmark economic development.

Congress Sandesh | 22 | May 2015 Viewpoint

The raison d’etre of Narendra Modi of Gujarat fame during the most expensive election campaign in India was that a policy paralysis had gripped this nation and a strong leadership was required to rescue the economy from its state of morass. The most telling accomplishment of the “strong leadership” of Mr. Modi in one year has been the free fall of the Indian currency. In August 2013, the current foreign minister and the then Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha had notoriously tweeted: “The Rupee has lost its value, PM his grace”. On May 16, 2014, $1 was equivalent to Rs 58.86. Three hundred and fifty-seven days later, on May 8, 2015, one American dollar is down to 10.9 per cent in March 2015 back-to-back attacks in Chhattisgarh. to Rs 64.04. Against six currencies, the as compared to 14.6 per cent in March What perhaps was most telling of the trade weighted real effective exchange 2014. Non-food credit too went down to weakness of the Indian state was the rate (REER) has ascended from 109.58 9.4 per cent in March 2015 compared to abduction of 300 villagers from near a in February 2014 to 124.34 in February 11.7 per cent during the same period last bridge building site on the Baruriver 2015. year. Business confidence is at all time in Sukma district, the day the Prime low. The economy is emanating gigantic Minister was in Dantewada, pleading The monthly economic report of red warning signs. No wonder the with the Maoists to see their sins in the department of economic affairs chummy capitalists now appear morose. the eyes of militancy-affected children (DEA) of the finance ministry pegs the The champagne corks appear ready to barely 60 km away. The battalions growth of gross value added (GVA) for go back into the bottles. tasked with fighting the Maoists in an agriculture and allied services at 1.1 per inhospitable terrain are complaining of On the fourth benchmark that is the cent in 2014-15 as compared to 3.7 per being equipped with inferior weaponry internal security situation, the scenario cent in 2013-14. No wonder there is and are literally sitting ducks for the is depressing if not distressing. Even agrarian distress all around and farmers better-armed reds. are committing suicide during public during the worst days of militancy in protests. Jammu and Kashmir never, ever were The situation is no better in the Northeast. Pakistani flags so openly waved, as they There has been no breakthrough on the Eight core infrastructure sectors of the were in the past one-month. The Central Armed Forces Special Powers Act issue economy registered a measly 1.4 per cent and the BJP-People’s Democratic Party and no headway in resolving the million growth in February 2015 as compared government in the state was, at best, a mutinies that plague the picturesque to 6.1 per cent in the February of 2014 helpless bystander if not collusive in this Northeast. It recaps the famous couplet, when the UPA was in office. Five sectors brash and brazen challenge to the Indian “Shahenshah Bahadur Shah Alam, of the economy crude oil, natural gas, state. The release of Massarat Aalam Delhi se Palam”. The writ of the BJP-led refinery products, fertilisers and the the mastermind of the stone-pelting NDA government is circumscribed by steel sector have recorded negative incidents in the summer of 2010 brings its inefficaciousness. growth. Growth in broad money (M3) into question the resolve of the National On to the final benchmark international decelerated to 11.3 per cent in March Democratic Alliance government to affairs there is complete absence of a 2015 from 13.4 per cent during the tackle terrorism. corresponding period of the previous vision or even a coherently articulated year. Growth in bank credit also Given that, the release was orchestrated strategy. There is no clear sense about decelerated to 9.2 per cent in March 2015 while the state was under President’s where the NDA government would want from 11.7 per cent during the March of Rule belies the BJP’s rhetoric about being to see India in 2019 when its term ends. the previous year. Even deposits with tough on terror. Left-wing extremism Though the Prime Minister has been a scheduled commercial banks went has again reared its snakehead with fleeting visitor to India in the past one continued on page 27

Congress Sandesh | 23 | MAY 2015 Opinion

For Farmers, Rahul Walks in Rajiv’s Footsteps

s photographs and news items fill the newspapers of El Nino effect. Fortunately, El Nino has ARahul Gandhi’s rail journeys and walking tours of states never after hit us since quite so badly but afflicted worst by farmers’ distress and his championing even the lesser effect is having drastic of the cause of farmers in the Lok Sabha, my mind races consequences for our farmers because back to 1987, a comparable year of natural calamity that the Government is so slow-footed and had the whole country reeling in agrarian crisis. The major so preoccupied with its alternative difference is that Rahul is only a leader of the Opposition; agenda of purloining the farmer’s land in 1987, his father was the Prime Minister. that, notwithstanding the agrarian Mani Shankar crisis, it carries on with business as Notwithstanding the onerous demands on his Prime Aiyar usual (the pun is intentional). Ministership, Rajiv accorded his highest Rajiv’s first action when priority to touring the the crisis hit us in 1987 affected areas of the was to convene a meeting country, ranging from of Chief Ministers in New Kashmir and terrorist- Delhi on September 3 to ridden Punjab, to secure their suggestions Rajasthan and Gujarat and the endorsement of and Maharashtra; out to a draft Action Plan that Bihar, West Bengal, Assam had been prepared by the and Nagaland; and south Ministry of Agriculture. to Madhya Pradesh and Although current distress Andhra Pradesh. There has been on the public was not a single affected radar for several months, state or area that was left Modi has been too out. He was present whenever and wherever the farmer preoccupied taking cruises on the Seine to find time to needed him most. concert the efforts of the Central and State governments to bend the national will of the nation as a whole to taking In conspicuous contrast, the present Prime Minister is the steps required to mitigate and overcome the natural everywhere except where a farmer is to be found. He disasters that have combined to hit the nation in its solar wanders far, wide and frequently all over the world - so did plexus. Instead of action, his agriculture minister waffles in Rajiv - but unlike Rajiv he has no inclination to search out Parliament and so aggravates the Opposition with his non domestic distress. This is not only a question of poor time sequiturs that all of them walk out in protest. Meanwhile, management; it also reflects the arrogance and heartlessness Modi applauds his minister for his oratory. This government that are so characteristic of Modi, the man. is completely out of touch with the national mood. The combination of drought and floods that hit the country Before we come to the extraordinary achievements of from the summer of 1987 well into 1988 was traced to the

Congress Sandesh | 24 | May 2015 Opinion

occasion and asked for “close and continuous cooperation between them” so that “employment in rural areas” is assured; “wages must be distributed regularly and in full”; “strict vigilance against malpractices”; and “effective management for work programmes” for “several million people”. That is how a government that works, works! He then visited state after state, usually driving himself for hundreds of miles from earliest dawn to long after the sun had set to see for himself what ground action was being taken. Thereafter, till well past midnight, he would meet with State officials and ministers to review their work and make course corrections. These were never general, broad reviews, but detailed, micro-exercises that kept officialdom on their toes and sent an unmistakable signal that their the 1987 Rajiv Action Plan, let us first recall the clarion every move was being monitored. I saw all this with my call that Rajiv Gandhi sounded at that gathering of chief own eyes for I was invariably on all these tours. ministers. He said that we were faced “with the most serious The result? India’s cereals production soared from 113 challenge” as “1987 has brought a drought which is truly million tonnes in calendar year 1988 to 36 million tonnes exceptional” - just as 2015 is faced with a “truly exceptional” the following year - the single largest increase in annual and “serious” challenge. He stressed that “the rains have output ever scored in India’s agricultural history. It signally been seriously deficient in large parts of the country” and contributed to India’s growth rate in 1988-89 crossing the added that “in some States (he had Rajasthan, in particular, double-digit mark for the first and only time in India’s in mind) this is the third or even fourth consecutive year of economic history - 10.67 per cent! Not even once during the drought.” He underlined the point that “this year’s drought entire post-reforms period have we come close to beating is comparable to the drought of 1965” - the worst till then that record. That is what is meant by rising to a national since Independence. He went on to say that “we cannot meet challenge, not traveling to distant shores to spew rubbish it (the drought) with routine responses” as “the situation about “Scam India” and “Skill India” while the country reels calls for a total mobilization of national will.” Have we heard under rain and hail damage. anything comparable from the present Prime Minister? Rahul is walking in his father’s footsteps. He does not have And unlike the present Prime Minister, instead of confining the power that Rajiv had as PM. But from his place on the himself to alliterations, acronyms and slogans, Rajiv Gandhi Opposition benches, Rahul is doing what our PM should presented the Chief Ministers with an Action Plan for be doing - reaching out to the farmers in their homes and Drought and Flood Relief to deal with issues of “employment, their mandis to understand what the krishak and the khet drinking water and fodder”. He then set out specific steps to mazdoor are facing, and coming up with practical solutions meet the challenge: maximize output in the coming season to practical problems. Modi spends his time not in solidarity “by providing our farmers with the inputs they need”; with the farmer but in spinning around salubrious climes, organize relief works “oriented” towards both “providing in a kind of frenzy over “have ‘plane, will travel”. Do employment” as also “ensuring a degree of drought- you now see why farmers’ suicides have reached levels proofing in the affected areas”; off-setting the shortfall in undreamt of even in the terrifying drought of 1987? We had hydroelectric power generation by “special efforts to step a caring Prime Minister then. We have now in his son a up thermal generation”; and “use our public distribution caring leader of the Opposition. But in the Prime Minister system to the fullest advantage”. These major measures were we have a callous, self-absorbed failure, quite unworthy of in addition to measures already taken, such as rescheduling the position to which he has been pitch-forked: “if you have loans; providing funds for drinking water; advance release tears, prepare to shed them now.” v of funds for rural employment works (Rajasthan received in just one year funds equal to the previous forty years for (The author is a senior Congress leader and employment relief); and additional imports of edible oils. MP in the Rajya Sabha)

He urged both central and state governments to rise to the Courtesy: NDTV

Congress Sandesh | 25 | MAY 2015 TRIBUTE REMEMBERING RAJIV GANDHI

f you ask me as to what was the biggest USP of Rajiv Gandhi, II would say without hesitation-his smile. There was some magic in his smile which had the capacity of easily melting his adversaries. The magic of his smile, than perhaps his arguments, which were more successful in resolving issues. When he took over the reins of Prime Ministership after the sad demise of Indira Gandhi ,the talks that he was a mere pilot of the aircraft and that he will not be able to pilot the destiny of the country, did not last long. His unprecedented victory (411 seats out of 542 seats) in the polls, held after the sad demise of his mother, made a history. At this stage, I cannot resist from striking a personal note. I was given a ticket to contest Lok Sabha elections from North Goa (1-Panaji) Parliamentary constituency in 1984. I did not even come to Delhi to seek a ticket as I thought, to contest an election from North Goa, when I hailed from South Goa, Governments celebrating them,at Central may not be welcomed. But, when Mrs. Sulochana Katkar, the and State levels ,is no doubt welcome then President of Goa PCC suggested that there is no harm in but, Congress party has to effectively giving my application, I sent my application through Goa PCC get involved in the two movements as President and I got the ticket with the blessings of Rajivji, I was , they are related to the two historical selected and I won the seat with over 39000 votes, which was, a legislations, namely, Environment record margin at that time, for that particularly constituency, Protection Act, 1986 and Consumer practically a known anti-Congress constituency. Protection Act, 1986. Our vigilance with Rajiv Gandhi not only took important political and respect to the two legislations will prevent Shantaram Naik, administrative decisions during his stint as Prime Minister any design to rename these historical MP but, some of the most important legislations, of which the legislations in the name of BJP or RSS country is proud today, were enacted during his regime. leaders. Besides, it is the congress workers who can explain the relevance of these two legislations for the benefit of common Although 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments were man. It is Rahul Gandhi in recent times, who rushed to the aid passed after the sad demise of Rajiv Gandhi, yet the foundation of tribals by invoking the principles and policies of protecting for enacting the two historical legislations, were laid by Rajiv environment and forest. Gandhi. It is he, who interacted with officers of all levels, to get the sense of the grassroot representatives as regards giving Common citizens of the country also derived strength after the representation to one third women in Local Self Bodies and consumers who were cheated by some unscrupulous traders for devolving powers upon them. selling substandard goods got solace and relief on account of the consumer law but, hardlyanyone knows that it is Rajivji’s As Local Bodies basically come under the domain of States law which gave the consumers the much needed relief. the Constitutional Amendments, namely, 73rd and 74th, However, State Governments have to effectively gear up the which were enacted as per the wishes of Rajiv Gandhi, left District and State machineries, if consumers are to get effective the powers with the States to enact appropriate legislations justice in time. to devolve these powers. It would have been ideal if the State Governments were to devolve these powers in real terms more Certain powers under the Act can be devolved upon Panchayat expeditiously than it is done today. bodies if the objectives of the Act are to be achieved. I also feel that Environment Day and Consumers’ Day should Ultimately, ideas put forth by his thoughts, expressed through be celebrated by the Congress party to emphasize the fact that economic and political decisions, fortified by legislations the two legislations which revolutionize the lives of average that are required to be effectively implemented to bring the Indians, were enacted during Rajivji’s time. memories of Rajiv Gandhi alive. v

Congress Sandesh | 26 | May 2015 ANALYSIS Diminishing Jan Dhan Yojna

he way Prime Minister Narendra Modi hyped the Jan- few hundred rupees have been deposited TDhan Yojana and presented it before the nation it seemed and thus most of the accounts are in an as to what special project has evolved, which will change almost dormant state. both the condition and direction of the country. But since Banks treat such accounts as useless this project was launched to the present time of the project in which there is no transaction. But clearly showed that Modi Government had surely copied it but the Central Government still has not there is dearth of the application of mind. The benefit of any explained to the common man about the government scheme that is to be given to each person in the method of this transactions in the Jan- country should go directly into his account, was a project of the Dhan accounts so that its benefit may be Pankaj previous Congress-led UPA Government, which the people Chaturvedi availed by the account holder. At the same knew as the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme. In this Scheme the time the bank has to decide who will be Congress Government by opening accounts for the common the beneficiary of this account. Banks have also a doubt that people had made an effort that the subsidy on cooking gas as there may be many accounts in the name of a single person well as the wages of MGNREGA are straightaway deposited because he may have opened more than one account to seek in the name of the beneficiary. But when there is shortage of more benefit. wisdom then there remains no option but to copy. Basically, the Jan-Dhan Scheme accounts have been opened Though the Modi Government was patting their back on the to seek the benefits of Government Schemes. This was not Jan-Dhan Scheme, the ground reality was saying something intended to expand banking services. But to achieve a big target else. The Modi Government is knowingly acting ignorant that the bank even opened additional account of those who already in the implementation of the Jan-Dhan Scheme there were were the account-holders in that bank. This was just to meet the various practical anomalies. Now, even the media is slowly target set by the Government. openly talking about the practical difficulties of the scheme. The special feature of the Jan-Dhan Scheme is the facility of The officers and employees working in banks are feeling very overdraft upto Rs. 5000. The government has not cleared in its uncomfortable with this scheme. All class of people, big and notification that the facility of overdraft may be availed only small, poor common men daily make the rounds of the bank when there will be a satisfactory operation of the account and in hope that as per what Prime Minister had said money would the beneficiary has no account in any other bank. But in many have come in their accounts. But the reality is just the opposite. cases the account-holder has no account in any other bank. In the Jan-Dhan Scheme ‘Jan’ is present, but Dhan (Money) is Therefore they can not avail the facility of the overdraft. In missing. According to the announcement made for the deposit addition to it their accounts should be linked with the ‘Aadhar’ of the money and its absence, the employees of Dena Bank are number. finding themselves in a piquant situation while arguing with the people. Because the common man is not finding money in That is why due to such practical problems this Scheme has not his account and is holding bank employees responsible instead shown any tangible result till so far. of the Modi Government. According to official figures eleven crore worth of cards have been issued till January, 2015 and about Rs 10,500 crores has Last August Narendra Modi in his financial inclusion had been deposited in Jan-Dhan accounts. All such account holders launched the Jan-Dhan Scheme with much fan fare. After may have some free services like free debit card, overdraft the launching of this Scheme 12.54 crore accounts have been facility of Rs. 5,000, accidental insurance of Rs. 30,000 and opened till 31st January, 2015, in which seven and a half crore insurance policy of Rs. One lakh. accounts are from rural areas while the rest are from urban areas. According to the government notification, the facility of overdraft may be availed when the account may be operated in Till date in these Jan-Dhan accounts, the provision of insurance a satisfactory way and does not have an account in any other and loan as Modiji had announced has not yet started. Earlier, bank. there was a government notification that from March, 2015 the work of insurance and loan would be started, but it is possibly Bankers claim that most account holders already have bank postponed till September. Even after September, how will it accounts so that they can not avail the overdraft facility. At operate and how it will be possible is not clear. Most of the the same time their account may be linked with ‘Aadhar’ Card accounts in this scheme in the country merely once or twice a number. v

Congress Sandesh | 27 | MAY 2015 TRIBUTE Rajiv Gandhi was the great leader of the 21st Century

mongst the great Prime Ministers of Independent India Athe name of Rajiv Gandhi is engraved in golden pages of history. As a true liberal with a natural sense of service he established the nation as a strong nation. Rajivji was a sensitive, soft-hearted leader, he used to speak whatever was in his heart. Whatever Rajivji felt, he gave shape to with great farsightedness. The vision of India of the 21st Century was not just rhetoric in his speech but was a vision with a plan. And this perspective, was implemented by converting it into a programme for which Rajivji dedicated his life. He took revolutionary steps like the ushering in an era of communication, revolutionized, establishment of Information Technology, provided Panchayti Raj in the country, jobs for every hand, brought in industrial revolution which established a strong India on the international platform and this proved to be a boon for the progressive India. Today, the country is established in the shape of a strong India. It is because of the halt. The politeness of Rajivji, his sweet dream and implementation of Rajivji. nature and honesty were the specialties of his personality he could easily solve The misfortune for India first happened when Nathuram the problems of politics and diplomacy Godse with a RSS ideology assassinated the great leader of that the whole world was surprised by the nation Mahatma Gandhi. The whole nation was shocked his balance and disciplined persona. and terrorized that a great leader of secular thinking has The serious problem of Punjab was suddenly passed away, what will happen now… but the first tackled so fearlessly and peacefully and Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru preserved the done in such a miraculous way that the Yogesh Yadav Gandhian ideology and did not allow it to be diminished whole world admired him. In reference and this country which depended on foreign countries for to Rajivji, a saying become popular that foodgrains made it self-sufficient by developing dams and some divine power is present in him or he is an incarnation of industries to shape a new-India. some power. Thus, it was concluded that he was the true son The second misfortune struck the country when trying to fulfill of Mother India. the dreams of the Nehru era suddenly the national leader who The foreign journalists were attracted towards Rajivji because had established herself as a divine force Priyadarshani Indira of his mild nature, attractive personality and his simplicity Gandhi was assassinated. After the killing of Indiraji on 31st and respectable way of speaking. An American publisher October, 1984 the entire responsibility fell on the shoulders wrote giving the title that Rajivji was the world’s most popular of Shri Rajiv Gandhiji. The country once again went into a person that “Rajiv Gandhi was the Sun of the East which terrible state, whole nation was burning at that time, the need would enlighten the Western civilization and culture, by his was for patience and consolation. Suddenly, there appeared cultural and ideological thoughts”. an intelligent, bright and a person of great personality and he was the new Prime Minister of the country Shri Rajiv Gandhi. The thought of Bharat nirman and increase in power generation Rajivji while making his first address to the nation said in very was vested in the heart of Rajiv ji. To encourage the youth it few words that, “that she was not only my mother she was a had become unavoidable to give them responsibility, therefore mother for all of us, violence, hatred and jealousy hurt the soul despite discarding all opposition he gave the right to vote for of Indiraji, you should keep calm and have patience.” youth of 18 years of age. To open endless possibilities of job opportunities he encouraged the IT culture in the country. These words cast a magic spell on the people of the country, the tears of the people started to stop. The personality of Rajivji Today, we are in tandem with the world growth rate due to made such an influence that the wind of hatred came to a modern technology, to develop computer technology in India,

Congress Sandesh | 28 | May 2015 Tribute

and to make it reach every person. The credit goes to Rajiv target of biggest case of cheating in a democracy, the voters of Gandhi. With the implementation of computer technology the country were offered sweet dreams of ache din (Good days there was a revolutionary change in technology, railway, will come), the people of the country have realized that during communication, health, education and construction, the the past one year they have been cheated by the loud speeches growth rate of India has astonished the whole world. of Narendra Modi. The present government of the country is terming some Today, there is no control on inflation, the farmers are countries as their ‘friends’ and those countries did not committing suicides, there is anarchy all around, neighbouring appreciate the strengthening of India under the leadership of country is showing its eyes, the people of India are not getting Rajivji, Rajivji was a popular leader of South Asia therefore he essential facilities, at this time people remember Rajivji who had had a conception to peace and progress in the neighbourhood, an industrious personality, whose speech was full of truth and because of this the traditional opposing countries became innocence, who did not have crookedness, who never delayed jealous, Rajivji was determined to develop India as the Sixth in taking bold and fearless decisions. It is the misfortune of most powerful country of the world which did not suit the India that whenever a non-Congress government was formed opposing nations. Because of this mission of peace and progress the progress and international image has diminished. the great world leader became a victim of conspiracy and he lost Today, this nation has lost Rajiv ji but he was the architect of his life. Because of his efforts in his mission to bring peace in India of 21st century and he will always be relevant, presently Sri Lanka Rajivji became the target of international conspiracy, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Rahul Gandhi are carrying he became a martyr in a bomb blast at Sri Perambadur on 21st forward the ideology and commitment of Rajiv ji, as Rajivji May, 1991. travelled from village to village and jhuggi hamlets and come One foreign newspaper had written that, “the sun of the east to understand India, like wise Shri Rahul Gandhi by making has gone down before noon”, this reference is just concentrated padyatras and travelling in ordinary coaches is making his on Rajivji but the comparative analysis between Rajivji and entry into the hearts of the people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is necessary, by his verbosity Shri Rahul Gandhi and crores of Congress workers have Narendra Modi is damaging the image of India in foreign resolved to realize the dreams of a “India of Rajiv Gandhi” countries, referring India as a corrupt and a weak nation which is in their minds. on international forum and Rajivji on the other had always referred India as a great and glorious nation in foreign lands, Like, Congress is a movement, similarly, Shri Rajiv Gandhi was he never allowed the honour of mother India to be diminished. the symbol of ideology, a resolution, a planning, construction and honour. Rajiv ji Amar Rahe. In independent India after the installation of the present BJP Government at the Centre the “People seem to have become (The author is the chief organizer of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Sewa Dal) continued from page 23 On substantive issues this government has lost the plot. Calling Koi lauta de mere beete hue din off the foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan over the Pakistani high commissioner’s meeting with Hurriyat leaders year, his trips across the world have been more of the meet in August last year and then burying its head in the sand when and greet variety than having any substantive policy content the same exercise was repeated this year on Pakistan Day sent in them. Collecting non-resident Indians in stadia and “king out a very clear signal to the hawks across the western border konging” does more harm to India’s interests than helping it. that they are dealing with a bunch of novices in Delhi. The government unfortunately, much like the previous one, has Imagine if the Prime Minister of Nepal would fill the Indira reached its “Sharm el-Sheikh” moment rather early in its term. Gandhi stadium with the Nepalese living in India and hold The relationship will continue in the state of frozen turbulence forth on all and sundry matters how would that go down with as it has been for the past six decades. the Indian foreign policy establishment? Or what if the Prime Minister of Bangladesh collected a million Bangladeshi’s The most devastating evaluation of this government came at the Boat Club, presuming she got permission to do so, to from a rather mellow group of investors whom I came across declare victory over the Land Boundary agreement with at a legendary watering hole in Mumbai on a Saturday evening. India? The endemic screaming of our television anchorites One of them turned to the crooner after a couple of doubles and hosts would rise to vein-bursting proportions. Mr. Modi’s and asked if she could sing Koi lauta de mere beete hue din interlocutors in the US, Australia and Canada have been more an evergreen Bollywood song that loosely translated means, v than polite, but as to how long would this restraint last is an “Could someone please return me to the old times!” open-ended question. The author is a lawyer and a former Union minister.

Congress Sandesh | 29 | MAY 2015 Tribute Socialism of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indian National Congress

awaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), was the first and foremost attracted me, as also the tremendous JLeader of the Indian National Congress, who proved changes taking place in Russia.”03 himself instrumental in making India embark upon the path After the Brussels Congress, Jawaharlal of socialism. It was due to his untiring efforts since late 20’s Nehru visited U.S.S.R. alongwith his that socialism, Nehru and Congress - the three words, became father, Motilal Nehru and sister Krishna inter-linked and dominated the political scene of India. His Nehru. Motilal Nehru “found it hard powerful oratory, art of presentation, non-violent approach to understand the new Russia and the and dashing personality put him at the apex among the collective idea of the Soviets.”04 But socialists in India. Jawaharlal was greatly impressed by the Dr Shashi Kumar Nehru became interested in the philosophy of socialism from tremendous changes taking place over Singh PhD, D.Litt an early period in his life, while studying law in London, he there, Nehru has recalled: was “vaguely attracted to the Fabians and socialistic ideas.”01 “My outlook was wider, and nationalism But such ideas on socialism were formed by itself seemed to me definitely a mainly from books, and not from narrow and insufficient creed. Political practical experiences. In 1920, Nehru freedom, independence, were no doubt visited some of the villages in U.P. This essential, but they were steps only in the adventure was a revelation to him. Until right direction; without social freedom now, he was ignorant of village-life and a socialistic structure of society and the dumb-misery of the starving and the state, neither the country nor peasants who were clad in rags, hunger the individual could develop much. In and emancipation. It was a novel and Soviet Russia, despite certain unpleasant eye-opening experience for him and he aspects, attracted me greatly and seemed has recalled in his ‘An Autobiography’: to hold forth a message of hope to the “Looking at them and their misery world.”05 and overflowing gratitude, I was filled This visit of the Soviet land left a with shame and sorrow, shame at profound impression on Nehru’s mind. my own easy-going and comfortable Socialism was his new creed now, and the life and our petty politics of the city Soviet Union was seen as the land where which ignored this vast multitude such a creed flourished, despite many of semi- naked sons and daughters drawbacks. “I must confess” he wrote, of India, sorrow at the degradation that the impressions I carried back with and overwhelming poverty of India. me from Moscow were very favourable A new picture of India seemed to rise before me, naked, and all my reading has confirmed these impressions, although starving, crushed and utterly miserable.”02 there is much that I do not understand and much that I do not Such a horrible scene shook his bourgeois political outlook, like or admire.”06 The admiration he developed for the Soviets and gradually he looked moving towards the path of socialism. was obvious in all his writings and speeches of the time. In his In 1926, he visited many European countries. This visit left book he did assert that “no one can deny the fascination of an imprint on Nehru’s outlook. While in Europe, he attended this strange Eurasian country of the thrones of the mighty and the Congress of Oppressed Nationalities at Brussels as the upset the best-laid schemes of mice and men,” and he added: representative of the Indian National Congress. At the Brussels “If Russia finds a statutory solution of these (problems). Our Congress, he saw the inner conflicts of the western labour world work in India is made easier.”07 On his return to India, while on the one hand and straight-forwardness of the communists addressing the All-Bengal students Conference at Calcutta on at other side. This left bitter impression on Nehru regarding September 23, 1923, he once again reiterated, “I do believe in Communism, which he has recorded in the following words: communism as an ideal of society,” and in the same speech “They gave me also an insight into the inner conflicts of declared: the Western Labour world. So I turned inevitably with “And Russia, what of her? An outcaste like us from nations goodwill towards communism, for, whatever its faults, it and much slandered and often erring. But in spite of her was at least not hypothetical and not imperialistic. These many mistakes she stands today as the greatest opponent of

Congress Sandesh | 30 | May 2015 Tribute imperialism and her record with the nations of the East has go. It meant the ending of all special class privileges and vested been just and generous. Russia goes to the East as equal, not as interests. The whole world is struggling to this end; India can a conqueror or a race-proud superior, Is it any wonder that she do no less, and in this way the Indian struggle for freedom is welcomed?”08 lines up with the world struggle.”14 Nehru was a man of strong likes and dislikes. As he was The nature of Nehru’s socialism has been a great riddle. The impressed by the new system of Russia, he took keen interest reasons are obvious. First of all, Nehru did not belong to any in spreading” the ideology of socialism especially among distinct school of socialist thought. His ideas were fusion of Congress workers and the intelligentsia, for these people, who several schools of thought of Western and Eastern traditions. were the backbone of the national movement, brought largely Secondly, he wanted to introduce socialism in accordance in terms of the narrowest nationalism.”09 While preaching with the traditions and necessities of India. Thus, in a sense, the gospel of socialism, Nehru realized that “a vague confused Nehru’s socialism became a compromise between Marxism socialism was already part of the atmosphere of India but and Gandhism, between Leninism and liberalism, between Marxian theory was influencing them increasingly, and a few proletarian socialism and nationalistic bourgeoism, between considered themselves as hundred percent Marxists. This highly advanced industrialism and rural cottage industrialism, tendency was strengthened in India, as in Europe and America, between violent revolution and non-violent revolution. It was by development in the Soviet Union, and particularly the five on this ground that Nehru’s socialism has been condemned as year plan.”10 “compromise” and “confusion”.15 To yet others, because of this By this time the creed of the Congress was simply political- type of socialism, Nehru was “out of place everywhere, at home the demand for freedom. But socialistic influences compelled nowhere.”16 On the other hand, Nehru has been applauded Nehru to think in terms of economics too. He realized that as “the harbinger of the socialist trend in Indian national society would not improve unless justice was done with the movement,”17 and “the white hope of world socialism”.18 “have-not” class. Thus, he declared forcefully in his presidential “There can be no doubt, however,” maintains Dr. V.P. Varma, address at Lahore in 1929: “that Nehru has the dominant place in putting socialism as a concrete social and economic objective before the Congress “The Congress, it is said, must hold the balance fairly between and the country.”19 capital - labour and zamindar- tenant. But the balance has been and is terribly weighted on one side, and to maintain As Nehru’s socialism has been condemned and applauded statuesque is to maintain injustice and exploitation. The only alike, it is essential to judge his concepts on marxism and way to do right is to do away with the domination of any class communists, socialism and socialists, Gandhism and over another.”11 Gandhians, and finally Congress-ideology and Congressites. It is only in this way that Nehru’s socialism will receive fair deal Again in the same speech he stressed that: “Our economic from us. v programme must, therefore, be based on a human outlook and References:- must not sacrifice man to money. If an industry cannot be run 01. Nehru, Jawaharlal, An Autobiography, (Allied Publishers Private without starving its workers, then the industry must be closed Ltd.,Bombay:1962, p. 2 down. If the workers on the land have not enough to eat, then 02. Nehru, Jawaharlal, An Autobiography,., p. 52. the intermediaries who deprive them of their full share must 03. Ibid., p. 163. 04. Nehru, Krishna, with No regrets (John Day, New York :1945), p. 57. go. The least that every worker in field or factory is entitled to 05. Nehru, Jawaharlal, An Autobiography, op. cit., p. 166. is a minimum wage which will enable him to live in moderate 6. Nehru, Jawaharlal, Soviet Russia: Some Random Sketches and comfort, and humane hours of labour which do not break his Impressions, (Chetna Ltd., Bombay: 1929), pp. 33-34. strength and spirit.”12 07. Ibid., pp. 1-3. 08. Nehru, Jawaharlal, Before and After Independence: a Collection of the Nehru realized that the root cause of India’s poverty was important speeches of Jawaharlal Nehru 1922-50. ed. by J.S. Bright, the system introduced by the British imperialists. He knew (Indian Printing works, New Delhi: N.D. 1950, p.66. 09. Nehru, Jawaharlal, An Autobiography, op. cit., p. 182. that the whole setup of the British Government had been 10. Ibid., pp. 183 organized on the principle of exploitation. Thus, the pledge 11. Presidential Address at Indian National Congress, Lahore 1929 in of Independence on 26th January 1930, which was drafted by Jawaharlal Nehru India’s Freedom, p. 15. Nehru, clearly denounced the British Government. It goes: 12. Ibid., pp.15-16. 13. Nehru, Jawaharlal, An Autobiography, Appendix A, op. cit., p. 612. “The British Government in India has not only deprived the 14. Nehru, Jawaharlal ‘With ere India’ in India’s Freedom, p. 32. Indian people of their freedom but has based itself on the 15. Ahmad, Ilys, Trendas in Socialistic Though and Movement, (The Indian exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, Press Ltd, Allahabad : 1937) politically, culturally and spiritually.”131n such a situation he 16. Bhumbhri, C.P., ‘Nehru and Socialistic Movement in India’. Indian Journal of Political Sciences, April- June 1969, vol. xxx, No.2, p. 143. perceived that: 17. Viswanathaian, K.V., ‘Jawaharlal Nehru’s Concept of Democratic “India’s immediate goal can, therefore, only be considered Socialism’ Indian Journal of Political Sciences, Oct. - December 1965, vol. xxvi, No.4, p. 91. in the terms of the ending of the exploitation of her people. 18. Shridharani, Krishnalal, My Indian, My West, (Vietor Gollanez, London: Politically it must mean independence and the severance of the 1942), p. 247. British connection, which means imperialist domination must 19. Varma, V.P. Modern Indian Political Thought - p. 593.

Congress Sandesh | 31 | MAY 2015 Pages from History

Anand Bhawan: Centre of Independence Movement

andit Motilal Nehru was one of the most shining impressive to one Rai Bahadur Parmanand Pathak of Muradabad who Pluminary of the Indian legal and Political realm of the last renamed it ‘Pathak Nivas’. The house proved to be a white decade of the 19th Century and first three decades of the 20th elephant for Rai Bahadur and he sold it to Pandit Motilal Century. His life style was not only high but very high and in a Nehru a well known and rising lawyer in 1898 against sense’ it was co-eval to European Standard. With the start of his Rs. 20,000/- only. After repairing the house with certain legal Practice at Allahabad he earned a good name and fame modifications, Motilal Nehru and his family entered the house in the legal circle of India. He spent Rs. 20,000 to purchase in the year 1900. The house was once again renamed and now a house for his residence at Allahabad and named it ‘Anand it was known as ‘Anand Bhawan’. In 1900, when Motilal Nehru Bhawan’. This house has a fascinating story. The first war of come to reside in this house Jawaharlal Nehru, the only son Indian independence (1857-59) was crushed by the British of Motilal Nehru was hardly aged about 11 years. Jawahar Lal imperialists and the last Mughal king Bahadur Shah II was Nehru’s younger sisters Smt. Vijaya Laxmi Pandit and Smt. not only dethroned but transported to Rangoon as well. Since Krishna Hathi Singh and daughter Smt. Indira Gandhi were then, the British Government in India did not rely upon the born in this house infact, this house permeated the elements Indian Muslims as the last mughal king of India was a muslim. of nationalism into the veins of the great Nehrus. But due to untiring efforts of Principal Beck of Aligarh School During the days of Non-co-operation Movement of 1920, and Sir Syed Ahmed, the Britishers started confiding in the Mahatma Gandhi had addressed the Public Several times in muslim community of India. As such, the educated members this vast field of Anand Bhawan. The meetings of Congress of muslim community were entrusted with administrative Working Committee were held dozen times in this very and social responsibilities by the British rulers in India. As Sir building and the burning of foreign clothes witnessed for the Syed Ahmed was a very strong link between the British rulers first time at the open space of Anand Bhawan. Pandit Motilal and his own community, he became a very precious stone of Nehru and his son Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru led the national the British treasury. The British Government wanted to settle movement quite vigorously from this house. At the time of him at Allahabad in its own imperialistic interests. In this Non-co-operation movement, when the Nehrus refused to background, the Governor of North West Frontier Province Sir deposit the fine imposed by the British administration of Willian Moore on the direction of Governor-General of India, Allahabad, the furniture and many valuables of the house were allotted thirty acres of land to Sir Syed Ahmed so that he could attached and carried away by the police. The meeting of the built a majestic residence at Allahabad. Sir Syed Ahmed built Congress Working Committee also took place in this house just a house on this land in 1871 and named it ‘Mehmood Manjil’ after entering the legislative councils. This Anand Bhawan was after the name of his son Justice Syed Mehmood. On the day of not only a directing Centre of the Indian national movement ‘Grih Pravesh’ the Lt. Governor had wished the house to be a but also a centre to educate the freedom fighters, the lessons ‘Cementing Centre’ for the stability of the British rule in India. of Satya and Ahimsa. Motilal Nehru wanted to dedicate the But it proved to be an irony that this house became the centre house to the nation and Jawaharlal Nehru, honouring the great of rooting out the mighty British rule in India. wish to Motilal Nehru, dedicated the house to the nation on After the death of Justice Syed Mehmood, his son Ross settled November 24, 1931. v at Hyderabad and left Allahabad for good. He sold the house

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Rabindranath Tagore : A multifacted personality Rahul Bal

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Message of Congress Vice Where knowledge is free President, Shri Rahul Gandhi on Into ever-widening thought and action Rabindranath Tagore’s birth Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake”. Anniversary on 7th May s we celebrate Rabindra Jayanti this 25 Baishakh, Awe pay tribute to one of India’s greatest icons. A n the current regime, when clouds of doubts are hovering poet, a thinker and a leader, with his words and the Iabove about the true intensions of the ruling party, power of his imagination Gurudev touched the lives Ravinderanath’s thoughts are even more relevant today. of millions across the world. His influence on Indian A Universalist and Internationalist, Tagore was a fearless music, art, literature, education and indeed our entire rationalist, whose reliance on reasoning and emphasis on cultural life is without parallel. He was the pride and inspiration of a nation in the making. Gurudev will human freedom militated against a divisive and parochial be remembered as a voice whose influence transcends understanding of social struggle. He was against any kind time and geography. of rigidity in ideas which provoked society to bias towards a certain direction sans the core principles of humanity and openness. He was convinced that extremism led disaffection was an inculcated phenomenon by determined souls “… interested groups led by ambition and outside instigation are today using the communal motive for destructive political ends.”

In his own declaration, he was “… proud of my humanity… Let me feel with unalloyed gladness that all the great glories of man are mine.”

Born in a forward looking educated Brahma Family (his father

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Maharshi Devendranath Tagore was a Brahma Samaj leader), he was one of the foremost proponents of internationalism, who despite his elite background, was engaged in a lifelong sojourn to understand the complex nature of human and humanity.

His family’s keen involvement in social, cultural and independence movements invoked an insatiable quest in him to know the truth. His illuminated relatives, his grandfather Prince Dwarakanath Tagore, his father Devendranath, his brothers Jyotirindrnath and Satyendranath (1st Indian Civil Santiniketan. Pandit Nehru also couldn’t think of a better Servant), his sister-in-law Gyanadanandini Devi etc. had place for his daughter Indira’s education, who was addressed tremendous impact on him. All of them contributed to his as “Priyadarshini” by Gurudev Tagore. growing as a true humanist and internationalist. In 1940 a year before he died, he put a letter in Gandhi’s A multi faceted personality, Ravindranath put an impression hand, “Visva-Bharati is like a vessel which is carrying the in almost every sphere of literature, poetry being the most cargo of my life’s best treasure, and I hope it may claim significant of all, though his creation includes novels, special care from my countrymen for its preservation.” poems, short stories, drama, painting etc. besides capturing A poet of hope, Ravindranath was instrumental to influence simple feelings and subjects of day to day human lives, his the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru who works are credited for their profound desire for freedom, were admired for their understanding of pluralism and lack both personal and national. Besides being one of the epoch- of chauvinism. As per Mr. Ramachandra Guha, Tagore was making wordsmiths of 20th century, in his late sixties, one of the four builders of modern India; the others among Tagore experimented with painting as a new medium of the ‘great quartet’ being Gandhiji, Nehru and Ambedkar. his creative expression, some of whom regarded as unique. The grotesque, the bizarre, the cruel, the sardonic, all that Besides many accolades to his credit, Tagore was having the he scrupulously kept out of his writings peeps out of his unique distinction of penning down two National Anthems drawings. (India and Bangladesh) and inspiring the third (Sri Lanka). Also, a great proponent of women empowerment, he was Shantiniketan and Sriniketan (which later got the shape of among the few early noblemen, who encouraged widow Visva-Bharati) were Rabindranath’s experiment with his marriage, women education and coeducational system. idea of practical education without getting entangled in In fact, he got his eldest son Rathindranath marry a child boundaries, of region, religion and anything which make widow, Prathibha Devi. us attached. Education, to him, is the most important tool of empowerment and possibly the only instrument to fight Throughout his life, in his lyrical poetic expressions, he singularity. observed nature and society around him, weighed down by rigid customs and obligations, often plagued by orthodoxy. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was bestowed with Though rthymic, optimistic and lyrical in nature, his the title “Mahatma” by Tagore was so impressed with his criticism of societal dogmas and quest for freedom is the idea that he adopted the scheme of teaching through crafts underlying theme of most of his work. v and imported his first teachers for his basic school from

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Following are the extracts from the speeches of the Congress Presidents who have placed their vision and opinion for building the destiny of India. Ateet ki Neev, Bhavishya ka Nirman Nayi Zimmedari: Sonia Gandhi

82nd Plenary Congress Session: Congress President’s Speech at Hyderabad held on 21-23 Jan, 2006

I have rediscovered the wells-springs of back with a massive mandate in their creativity and enterprise, and are the assembly, but they also voted We are meeting in Andhra Pradesh scaling new heights of achievement. overwhelmingly for us in the Lok Sabha for the fifth time and in Hyderabad With all humility but with confidence elections. This enabled us to form the for the third time, in our long 120 we can say that the Indian National Congress-led coalition government at year-old history. And what a glorious Congress has decisively shaped the Centre. We owe a deep debt to the history it has been. contemporary India. people of Andhra Pradesh, a state in It has been a history of remarkable which Indira Gandhi’s memory is still And, in turn, the Indian National men and women who, by their recalled with so much affection. Congress, has been enriched by a large struggles and sacrifices, brought us number of leaders and workers from II our freedom. They bequeathed to us Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh has democratic and secular values that We met last as a Plenary in March 2001 produced outstanding entrepreneurs, form the bedrock of our Constitution. in Bangalore. On that occasion, we scientists, doctors, engineers and other had resolved to wage every war, fight It has been a history of enormous professionals. This land, so much part every battle, make every sacrifice, to progress that has seen the of our traditions and heritage, has remove the BJP-led NDA government establishment of the modem Indian also given birth to very many eminent at the centre. nation-state and its flowering as cultural and literary personalities. a major political, economic and Many diverse faiths and cultures have That milestone was reached in the technological power in the world. intermingled here in harmony. May 2004 elections. It has been a history of profound Last year, the people of Andhra Across the country, people came out transformations. The people of India Pradesh not only brought the Congress to express their resentment on the

Congress Sandesh | 35 | MAY 2015 From the Archives divisive politics of the BJP that had damaged social harmony. They came out to express their opposition to the elitist economic policies of the BJP, that had neglected kisans, khet mazdoors, weavers, workers and other weaker sections of society. Lakhs of Congress workers all over the country worked tirelessly and selflessly to ensure our victory. I want to acknowledge their contributions and say that without them, without their devotion and dedication, we would not be in power today at the centre. The Congress has always been a Party of karyakartas. We have workers in every village, in every basti, in every mohalla of our vast country. They give us strength No words are sufficient to appreciate their contributions. I should humility, became our Prime Minister. we cooperate. But state-level issues add here that, time and again, whether Under his leadership, together with and concerns are very different. Let it is the earthquakes in Gujarat and our allies, we formulated a Common our colleagues from Kerala and West Jammu & Kashmir or the floods in Minimum Programme. This CMP Bengal have no doubts — in these different states or the tsunami in the is based predominantly on the states, we are opponents and we will Andamans and south India, I have Congress’s own election manifesto. fight as opponents. We are running coalition governments in some states as well. I know that our Party workers We met last as a Plenary in March 2001 in Bangalore. feel that these coalitions diminish On that occasion, we had resolved to wage every war, opportunities for them. But coalition does not mean abdication of party- fight every battle, make every sacrifice, to remove the building. There is no doubt in my BJP-led NDA government at the centre. mind that though we run coalition governments, we must at the same That milestone was reached in the May 2004 elections. time strengthen our Party at all levels. What have we done since May 2004? We have restored the secular been moved by the spontaneous So, it should be-clearly understood by foundations of governance. No manner in which our Party workers all of us that when we fulfill a CMP longer are external tensions being have engaged themselves in relief and pledge, we are fulfilling a commitment exploited for the polarization of our rehabilitation activities. of our manifesto itself. society. We have fought terrorism III Being in a coalition is a new experience with determination without targeting for us. But we have adapted well and any particular section of society. We Twenty months ago, we formed a have steadfastly followed the discipline have replaced a prejudiced, bellicose coalition government at the centre and decorum of a coalition. True, in nationalism with an all- inclusive with the support of parties committed some states we are opposing the very nationalism in keeping with our to secular values. Dr. Manmohan same parties that are supporting us at pluralistic ethos. We have transformed Singh, a Congressman of integrity and the centre. We see no contradiction in the agenda of public debate that was learning, a man of compassion and this. National challenges demand that obsessed with rewriting our past to a

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Across the country, people came out to express their The Prime Minister has taken close personal interest in each of them and resentment on the divisive politics of the BJP that had I know it has not been easy for him damaged social harmony. They came out to express to balance different considerations. We have to recognize that we will their opposition to the elitist economic policies of achieve our goals only, if we can raise the BJP, that had neglected kisans, khet mazdoors, and sustain the rate of growth of the weavers, workers and other weaker sections of society. economy. We have stepped up the momentum of both public and private focus on the day-to-day concerns of all levels transparent and accountable investment. We must understand, that our people. We have called a halt to the and for making people fully aware of it is imperative to grasp opportunities distortion of our education syllabus. their rights. We have a huge Rupees for faster growth, to generate more We have changed the manner in which one lakh seventy four thousand crore employment and resources for social economic reforms were perceived, Bharat Nirman programme that will sector expenditure. from an excessive pre-occupation with transform our villages, and bring new I want to draw your attention to FDI and privatization, to an over-riding prosperity over the next four years, another feature of these programmes. emphasis on employment, education, by investments in irrigation, housing, For the most part, they benefit agriculture and health. We have given drinking water, electricity, roads and backward districts; the majority of India a new stature in the world telecommunications. In future, more which happen to be in non-Congress community. The 2004 Verdict showed and more of our people will live in urban states. This means that, unlike the BJP, that our people will reject divisiveness areas. That is why we have launched we do not play partisan politics when of any kind, social or economic. The the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban it comes to the needs of our people. 2004 Verdict showed that our people Renewal Mission in 63 cities across More importantly this means you will reject arrogance and insensitivity the country. Over the next seven years, will have to ensure these programmes on the part of those who are in power. through this mission government will are not usurped or subverted by The 2004 Verdict also showed that a be investing about Rupees one lakh non- state governments. You will party that is complacent, a party that twenty thousand crore, to expand have to make people aware of their under-estimates its opponents and infrastructure and basic services. We entitlements, and organize them exaggerates its own strengths will be have started a national rural health effectively to demand and receive humbled by the people. In that verdict mission, to ensure delivery of basic these entitlements. You must network lie many lessons for us also, in both health facilities to our brothers and more closely with activists and civil the Party and the government. These sisters in villages. Over the next six society organisations. The new Right t lessons have to be absorbed fully. They years, the central government alone, Information Act is your main weapon must not be forgotten. Our Prime will be investing over Rupees one lakh in this Endeavour. In keeping with Minister will be speaking later on crore in this mission. our manifesto pledge, we have moved the accomplishments of the central We have doubled the allocations for decisively to enact new legislation for government. But I would like to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and mid- the welfare of women and children. highlight some of our major initiatives day meals, and significantly increased Succession Act, 1956 has that are of great political significance. spending on ICDS and nutrition been amended to give women equal We now have the historic National programmes for women and children. rights in inheritance of property. A law Rural Employment Guarantee Act We have succeeded in increasing bank to prevent domestic violence against that, as the name suggests, will, for the credit to farmers. Our commitment women has been passed. Our most first time, provide a legal guarantee for was to double the credit supply in precious resource-our children—now employment. This is an unprecedented three years and we expect to achieve have a National Commission that will step for which the Congress Party and this target much earlier. We are also ensure their rights are protected. none else can proudly take credit. strengthening cooperative credit Just a few weeks ago, as a demonstration We now have the landmark Right institutions. of our unflinching commitment to to Information Act. It is a major All these programmes add up to social justice, the 104th Constitution initiative for making administration at unprecedented, massive investments. Amendment Bill was passed to

Congress Sandesh | 37 | MAY 2015 From the Archives provide for reservations for scheduled come to the aid of our people during When the BJP-led NDA Government castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs in natural calamities. Now that we have was at the Centre, the Congress was the all private educational institutions, a government at the centre and in a only Party which extended support to other than those run by religious number of states, we can certainly the Supreme Court that every candidate and linguistic minorities. This will expect the concerns of the aam aadmi should furnish full details about himself expand opportunities in higher and to receive the highest priority. Prices before an election. professional education for students of kerosene, for instance, have not The Congress is the only Party which belonging to the weaker sections of increased even though world oil our society. A Bill has been introduced prices have sky-rocketed. I know at had constituted a committee, under the to give legal guarantee for reservations times, governance has its compulsions leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh, it in government employment, for but our cadres should not feel shy of give suggestion to bring transparency scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and highlighting people’s concerns, nor and effectiveness is fiscal system of OBCs. A comprehensive Bill to protect should such expressions be seen as political activities. Ours is the only the rights and livelihood of tribals criticism of our governments at the Party which has sent a comprehensive living in forest areas, has also been centre or in states. code of conduct for adopting simplicity introduced. by its members. To implement this IV code of conduct, I considered this the We have taken a number of measures Now, I will say something in Hindi. most important. This is not only for to address the concerns of minorities. representations of people but for all POTA has been repealed. A new law on Friends, I am very much concerned Congressmen. the prevention of communal violence is about the way politics and political on the anvil, and we expect Parliament leaders are ridiculed, they are presented When the issue of cash-on camera for to approve it soon. A National disgracefully. raising questions in Parliament came, Commission on Minority Professional we took a firm and principled stand, It is very clear in my mind. The poor, Institutions has been set up. A Bill different from BJP. But friends, the the deprived and the have-nots of our to make the National Minorities life style of some of our colleagues is society have a lot of expectations from Commission a Constitutional body one of conspicuous consumption. It is politics. Our multifarious democracy has been introduced. painful to see the way marriage parties has given them a voice, an identity and and birthday parties are organized. It We have invigorated the defence respect. Politics is the only field where appears that our sympathy for the poor modernization programme. We anybody can rise and reach the heights a joke. Do not misunderstand me, I am created a new department for the of responsibility and rights despite a fully in favour of sharing happiness at welfare of ex-servicemen and their humble beginning and a simple living. families. There is a long standing certain occasions but I am against the demand of ex-servicemen relating But, I do not mean to say that we should ugly show of wealth and its abuse. to their pension benefits. We hope ignore the present day criticism. We The way our colleagues use their that this demand would be resolved cannot ignore it. There is a flaw in our position is contrary to what we claim. soon in keeping with the pledge in system and we have to correct it. We This is different to the life style of our our manifesto. I want to take this have to eliminate the effect of money- freedom fighters and great leaders, opportunity, to convey our greatest power and physical-power. We have to who led a simple life and the way they appreciation to the armed forces, not take stern action against the people who worked. At every stage, our elected just for the valour with which they use politics for self-aggrandisement. representatives should follow the code defend our borders, but also for the As one Party, we are always committed of conduct and maintain the dignity magnificent manner in which they to high ideals and purity of public life. of their posts by following the rules of public life, not worrying about their We now have the landmark Right to Information Act. self-interests. It is a major initiative for making administration at The success of our democracy lies in all levels transparent and accountable and for making making alive the organizations on people fully aware of their rights.

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have no hesitation in saying that, in We have taken a number of measures to address the comparison to other political parties, concerns of minorities. POTA has been repealed. A more youths are occupying responsible posts in our party. Similarly, the number new law on the prevention of communal violence is of youths, belonging to different strata on the anvil, and we expect Parliament to approve it of society, seen in our party, are not soon. seen anywhere else. Their strength and fortitude should get encouragement so which it is based. Being the country’s other. I know the feelings of the most that they can serve the party in a better major political organization, it is our of our workers, when they become the way. Forgetting about deriving benefits prime responsibility to change the part of the government they think that from the election and the governments, attitude of our prime responsibility to the workers are of our own party, and they should use their energy and time change the attitude of people towards will go nowhere? This attitude has to be to strengthen the party. Their identity our political leaders and resolve the changed. It should be understood, after would surely be established by their confidence of people in the political all, mandate is given to the party. The hard work. Definitely, there are senior process. party forms the government in states leaders in our party and in fact, there is and the Centre. a rare confluence of experience and new V enthusiasm. For the first time in Delhi, we organized We have taken several steps in the two conventions. Both were successful You may remember, ours is the only organization to increase political and I am specially satisfied. First one party, which in 1998 made amendment activities since the last Plenary held on women empowerment was held in its constitution to grant 30 per in March, 2001. Like Sadbhawana in October, 2002 and the second of cent reservation to women. But I ke Sipahi, Bapu Sadbhawana Shiksha Block Congress presidents was held in am disappointed to see that we have Trust, Swachh Vatavaran Abhiyan March, 2003. We organized a ‘Chintan not been able to achieve the target and Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Shivir’ (intrespection) at Shimla in July, completely. For this, there is a need bodies were created. In the AICC, 2003. All of you know, we discussed for a new pledge. We have to change I constituted a Task Force last year threadbare all political and economic our mindset for fielding more women comprising colleagues of naxal-affected issues, which the country and the party candidates during elections. Similarly, states. This Task-Force has submitted were facing. Like this, these should be we have to make a consensus for its report and it has made some frequent meetings for interaction. By amending the constitution to grant important recommendations. This this, we get an opportunity for self- 30 percent reservation to women in should continue and move further. introspection and deep thinking. It gives legislative assemblies and in Parliament We celebrated the 75th anniversary of an opportunity is the new generation of and for this, we have to make double historic Dandi March and we repeated political workers to rise. efforts. On this occasion, I, with pride our commitment to Gandhian values. want to recollect the social revolution, While speaking about generations, I Along with this, we started a practice which was made possible due to of holding meetings of chief ministers of Congress-ruled states. In this We derive inspiration from our past. We take regard, the sixth meeting was held at Chandigarh in October last and the confidence from our history. We are conscious of the main agenda was the implementation many responsibilities that have been placed on us. of their election manifestoes. In this We are aware of the many challenges that confront meeting, I put special stress on having an understanding and partnership between us. Today, let us renew our commitment, to discharge the Party and the state government. these responsibilities, in a manner that assures a life There should be a dialogue between the two and both should strengthen each of security, prosperity and dignity to each and every Indian. Congress Sandesh | 39 | MAY 2015 from the ARCHIVES

the view-point of Rajivji, granting in proportion to their expectations. By and it should be clearly visible. To free one-third reservation to women in doing this, we have to always remember the people from bigotry and terror of panchayats. There are more than 12 that the biggest characteristic of our extremism, the government, the society lakh elected women out of 30 lakh party is that we move with all the and the political parties will have to women representatives in Panchayats. members of the society. Only the work together. This figure is more than 33 percent. Congress can do the empowerment Now, I want to say a few words about of weaker sections of the society by VI Jammu and Kashmir. Three years ago, maintaining the social equality. facing all sorts of difficulties the brother Friends, the period of last 8 years was a Recently, there has been rise in naxal and sisters of Jammu and Kashmir period of introspection for me. During activities and violence. This is a matter reimposed forcefully their faith in the this period, we had victories as well of concern. This is such an issue where country’s democracy. They placed as set-backs. We should be neither the Centre and the state governments their trust with the Congress, the PDP too overjoyed by our victories nor be in coordination with each other work and the parties of common ideology. saddened by defeats. We have major in an effective way. Law and order I want to thank the party workers for jobs before us. As President of the issue should be dealt with firmly. But, the great determination they worked Party, I am aware of my responsibilities. at the same time we have to look at with. There is a great responsibility Today we are not in power in many basic socio-economic truths which is to run the government with a human states. We have to show aggressiveness the cause of dissatisfaction and unrest. touch. In keeping with the hopes and to face our political opponents and we In tribal areas development-related wishes of the people. I have hope that will continue to raise issues related administration should be made more our coalition, led by the Congress and to the common-man. Our return in sensitive and human so that it can pay with the cooperation of the Centre will northern India is very important. special attention to basic health and be able to fulfil its responsibilities. There is no magical wand for this. education needs. The issues related to VII This is possibly only due to the efforts land are the most important. These of every one. This will be a long and should be disposed off fruitfully. My fellow Congressmen and women, difficult struggle. a meeting such as this is as much a During the last decades, perhaps no moment for celebration as of reflection. I know that I will have to pay more other country has faced the brunt of It is as much an occasion for self- attention to these states, but, similarly, terrorism like India. Our struggle congratulation as of introspection. It you have to accept that personally this against the people, who are out to is as much an opportunity for looking is also your big responsibility and you destroy the social fabric of our country back as for marching ahead. have to fulfil your responsibility in through terror-activities, will continue We derive inspiration from our an effective way. At their levels, the in right earnest. We have not slacken past. We take confidence from our party office-bearers will have to work our alertness. Our strength to fight history. We are conscious of the many together with party workers and people terrorism should continue to rise. In responsibilities that have been placed belonging to different classes of the this regard, we have to continuously on us. We are aware of the many society. The party office-bearers should assess our preparedness in the country. challenges that confront us. Today, motivate and make the party in such a let us renew our commitment, to It is a matter of concern not only for way that the benefits of the party’s work discharge these responsibilities, in a us but for the entire country the spread and programmes should go to the party manner that assures a life of security, of communal forces in tribal areas and not to a few persons. prosperity and dignity to each and and in the North-East. Every state of every Indian. For social justice, the Congress party has the North-East has its own identity. done much more than any other party. Indiraji and Rajivji had special feelings Today, let us renew our commitment to face these challenges unitedly, with This is the reason that the expectation for them. At the government and party- urgency and determination. Only by of dalits, tribals and members of other level we have to see that the benefit of doing so will we be able to reinforce backward classes have increased. the public money used in these states our position at the commanding must percolate to the people of the states We have to give them an opportunity heights of Indian politics. Jai Hind. v

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Pradesh Congress Vice President Haji STATESWATCH Hamid Ali garlanded the portrait of Babasaheb followed by floral tribute by other senior leaders and supporters of Pradesh Congress Party. Briefing about the life and contributions of Ambedkar to the Nation and Indian ARUNACHAL of the down-trodden and backward Constitution, Hamid said that he was sections of our society. A recipient of an apostle of peace and philanthropist PRADESH , he was a scholar and a for the downtrodden. Tributes paid to social reformer. He was the principal Dr. B.R. Ambedkar architect of the Indian Constitution BIHAR with his tremendous foresight and Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Congress erudite scholarship. Tributes paid to Babuji Committee celebrated the birth Patna: The Bihar Pradesh Kisan and anniversary of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. The programme was attended by Khet Mazdoor Congress paid tributes Ambedkar on 14th April, 2015 at Rajiv Shri Wanglin Lowangdong, Hon’ble to former Deputy Prime Minister Babu Gandhi Bhawan, Itanagar as a part of Minister Women & Child Development Jagjivan Ram on his Birth Anniversary year-long programme to commemorate etc, Shri Punji Mara, Hon’ble here on 5th April, 2015. his 125th birth anniversary celebration Parliamentary Secy, RD & Panchayati from 14th April, 2015 to 14th April, Raj, Ex-Ministers Shri Takar Marde & 2016. Shri Bosiram Siram, Ex-MLA Shri J.K. Panggeng, all the PCC office bearers, AICC Members, Smt. Kamala Lingi, President APMCC, Shri Tanu Nima, President NSUI State Unit, Shri Kirbe Dulom, National Delegate NSUI, Shri Yangbiu Tajuk, Working President, CCC, Frontal Organizations and the party workers. A seminar was organized near the The programme started with a welcome Bindeshwari Dubey memorial which speech by Shri Tachu Hina, General ANDAMAN AND was inaugurated by the Khet Mazdoor Secretary APCC followed by floral NICOBAR ISLANDS Congress Spokesperson, Shri Pramod tribute to the portrait of Babasaheb Dr. Kumar Rai while Pradesh Congress B.R. Ambedkar. Tributes paid to Dr. Ambedkar representative, Shri Alok Ram spoke on Smt. Kamala Lingi, President APMCC the life-history of Babuji who worked Port Blair: On the occasion of the and Shri Takar Marde, Ex-Minister for the upliftment of the deprived class birth anniversary celebration of & Ex-Vice-President APCC in their and the downtrodden. Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at speeches recalled the great contribution Gandhi Bhavan on 14th April, the Earlier, on 5th April, 2015, the Bihar of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and highlighted Pradesh Kisan and Khet Mazdoor his life history in brief. Congress paid tributes Bihar Pradesh Shri Wanglin Lowangdong, Hon’ble Congress Committee Scheduled Caste Minister, Women & Child Development Department paid tributes to former in his speech said that Dr. Ambedkar Deputy Prime Minister Babu Jagjiwan was a staunch crusader for the rights Ram on his 108th birth anniversary

Congress Sandesh | 41 | MAY 2015 NEWS here on 10 April, 2015. Shahu.

The function was inaugurated by Shri Kochhar said that helping the former Lok Sabha speaker, Smt. Meera disabled, mute and hard of hearing Kumar who also spoke about the life and the aged was a real tribute to Baba and struggle of Babuji. Shri said that Sahib Ambedkar. Also present were only Congress Party has the capacity Shri Mukesh Shah, Vijay Bhattacharya, to lead the country and therefore the Prakash Pujara, Bhavesh Soni and country demands that once again others. Congress Party should lead the nation for progress and development. five month back by the state BJP HARYANA government.

Tributes paid to Evicting poor BPL families According to Haryana Pradesh Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Gurgaon: The BJP government of the Congress spokesperson Shri Khazan, Patna: Bihar Pradesh Congress state has recently given a notice to the district level leaders of the BJP, Committee Scheduled Caste the families of the village Fathehpur their MLAs and MPs are keeping Department paid tributes to Dr. Jhandsa to vacate their homes within mum over the issue and are not doing Bhimrao Ambedkar on his Birth 24 hours as it has been declared illegal. any effort for the human cause. Shri Anniversary here on 14th April, 2015. Ramswaroop said that the old houses of the scheduled caste people were Member of the Advisory Committee, brought down, saying they were illegal Shri Umesh Kumar Ram garlanded the and the families are living in the open photo of Dr. Ambedkar. He also spoke since December, 2014. about the life-history of Dr. Ambedkar. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered that drinking water, CHHATTISGARH electricity, sewer and other civic Tributes paid to facilities be provided to these people Dr. Ambedkar but the government of the state has Haryana Pradesh Congress turned a blind eye. Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Pradesh Spokesperson, Shri Khazan Singh said Congress Committee Handicap cell that the village is a cluster of ‘Kashyap’ Effigy of Giriraj burnt paid tributes to the maker of Indian caste and they are about 205 BPL : The district Congress Constitution, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar families who have been living for the Committee, the Youth Congress and on his Birth Anniversary here on 14th past hundred years or more. April, 2015. the Mahila Congress on the call of Shri Khazan Singh has appealed the former Minister Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav police and the administration to give led by district Pradhan, Shri Jawahar proper protection to these poor people. Lal Sachdeva burnt the effigy of Union He also alleged that this action was Minister Giriraj Singh for making foul being done on the directive of the big remarks against the Congress president. builders as the commercial value of the land was much higher.

Blind eye towards On the occasion, Cell President, Shri people’s problem Mahender Kochhar, Shri Vijay Chopra Gurgaon: At least three lakh people and Shri Mahavir Malu distributed of the Shitala Colony in Ayudh area hearing aids to Dharmender Yadav, are desperately asking for drinking Madanlal, Sheikh Jamil and Ramcharan water which has been stopped abruptly

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The Congressmen collected at the Lal deprived sections of the society. State block president Jeewan Thakur, Drang Bahadur Shastri Chowk and burnt the Congress President Sukhvinder Singh block president Joginder Guleria, effigy of Giriraj Singh for uttering bad Sukhu stated this on 14th April, 2015 Mandi block president Dharampal, remarks against Smt. Sonia Gandhi while speaking at a state level function district party spokesperson Keshav which will not be tolerated said Shri of the party to mark the 125th Birth Naik, block observer Deepka Sharma Ajay Yadav and added that the BJP Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and party workers from the SC on the one side propagate the slogan here. Department, Mahila Congress, Youth of ‘Beti bachao, beti padhao’ and on Congress and NSUI were also present. the other side do not have respect for woman. This double-edged policy JAMMU AND KASHMIR of the BJP is not understood by the Congress, said Shri Yadav. Ambedkar Birth Anniversary Commemorated Preparing for ‘Kisan Rally Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Rewari: Former Minister Capt. Ajay Congress Committee paid rich Singh Yadav and former Pradesh tributes to Bharat Ratan Dr. Bhim Youth Congress President organized Rao Ambedkar on his 125th Birth a meeting here on 16 April, 2015 in He said Dr. Ambedkar united the Anniversary, in a function held on Preparation for the ‘Kisan Rally’ to be country through the Constitution in 14th April, 2015 at PCC HQ. Shaheedi held in Delhi. which he inculcated laws for equal Chowk, Jammu, which was presided treatment of all sections of society. over by the President J&K PCC Shri Capt. Yadav asked the Congress workers He appealed to the people to follow Ghulam Ahmed Mir and attended by to motivate and ask all the farmers to the path shown by Dr. Ambedkar and several senior leaders of the party. shun discriminations based on religion, caste, colour and creed to create a harmonious society. He said the Dalit community had always supported the Congress party and in turn, the party had fulfilled the promises made to them and also introduced various laws and policies for their welfare. be prepared to attend the ‘Kisan Rally’ “Recently, the Pradesh Congress on 19 April in Delhi. The rally will be Committee had organized the SC While paying floral tributes to the addressed by the Congress president, Department’s convention in which father of Indian Constitution, the Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Congress Vice- Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Senior Congress leaders described him President, Shri Rahul Gandhi. had agreed to the demands of the as one of the towering personalities SC community and announced to of modern India who will always The Rally was called to condemn the constitute a high-powered Schedule be remembered for his outstanding anti-farmers’ policies of the BJP and Caste Commission to resolve the contribution for the upliftment of the the Land Acquisition ordinance of the grievances of people of the community,” downtrodden people in this country. Modi government. Shri Sukhu said. They said that because of his HIMACHAL PRADESH Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Sohan relentless efforts for the rights of the Lal Thakur and Mansa Ram, former underprivileged sections of the society Follow path shown by MLA Tek Chand Dogra, SC Department and to get them their constitutional Babasaheb: Sukhu Chairmen Suresh Kumar, convener rights in every sphere of life on the principle of equality, the Indian Mandi: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar gave a new Rajender Mohan, Mandi Congress Constitution is a unique document direction to the country and worked President Puran Chand, Seraj block representing the pluralistic character for social justice and self-respect of the president Jadgish Reddy, Jogindernagar

Congress Sandesh | 43 | MAY 2015 NEWS of our Country. He will always be The Congress had been questioning 2015. The convention was presided remembered for his pivotal role in BJP for its stand on various issues over by Pradesh Congress Committee formulating the Constitution of India, especially granting of AIIMS to Jammu President G.A. Mir. the largest democracy of the World. after having announced the same Former PCC President Peerzada on Feb. 28. He said that Congress The PCC leaders also remembered Mohd.Syed, Taj Mohi U-Din,Gulam questioned the Government in the State the contribution of Dr. Ambedkar Nabi Monga MLC , Mohd Muzaffar Legislature and launched a movement during freedom struggle and post Parray MLC, Haji Abdul Rashid Vice by holding protest demonstrations at all independence era. He said that President MLA, Amreen Badre, Gulzar Dist. Headquarters including in front of Indian constitution formed under Ahmad Wani MLA, Usman Majeed Raj Bhawan, Jammu on April 13 but the his chairmanship is one of the best MLA, Bashir Ahmad Magray, Farooq BJP maintained its criminal silence on document in the World which takes the issue so far. care of the aspirations of the largest pluralistic society in the World. He was He said that Congress leaders and messiah of the poor and downtrodden workers all over Jammu Province joined in the country and dedicated his life for the massive protest demonstrations their upliftment and social integration amidst the bandh, to register the anger by protecting their interests in the of the people over the policies of the constitution. present dispensation of the Centre Andrabi, Mohd Amin Bhat MLA, and the State over the issue. Protest Mohd Abdullah Nadaf, Hilal Ahmad Bandh complete in Jammu, demonstrations were held at various Shah, S.S. Chenni, Gulam Nabi Mir protesters lathi-charged township and Dist. Headquarters in Lasjan, Raman Matoo, Nazir Ahmad the province. Khan, Abid Kashmiri, Irfan Naqeeb, 13-SWJKMP: Jammu: Expressing Zahid Hussain Jan, Manzoor Ahmad, gratitude to the people for observing The PCC strongly condemned the Ganai,Abdul Gani Khan Anayatullah a complete bandh on 24th April, 2015, police lathi charge on the peaceful Rather, Abdul Qayoom Shah, Gulam Congress has described it as an eye protesters at Dogra Chowk, Jammu in Mohd Mir, Qazi Mehboob Ellahi, opener for the BJP led Government at which several Congress leaders and Mushtaq Ahmad Khanday, Master the Centre and the present coalition workers were injured including PYC Mohd Maqbool, Shameema Raina, government especially the BJP over President Pranav Shagotra, Anoop Shaheena Nadaf, Jawahira, Jasbir its betrayal with the people of Jammu Gupta, Anil Chopra, Manmohan Singh Kaurm, Fayaz Ahmad Dar, Sahil Region on various issues especially the and Vikram Malhotra. This shows the Farooq, G.A. Gulzar, Maroof Ahmad setting up of AIIMS. utter frustration of the government and Wani, Mir Hamidullah , Prominent the administration. Reacting to the complete shutdown in Congress Leaders, Districts Presidents, Jammu on the joint call of the various Block Presidents, Mahila Congress trade and social organizations besides Congress to observe May 5th Youth Congress, NSUI leaders also Congress party, JKPCC has said that as Black Day addressed. people have reflected their anger over Srinagar: Congress will not allow The Convention was held with the aim the unholy alliance of BJP with PDP PDP-BJP to further mislead the people. to know the views of ranks and file and its policy of surrender and taking Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress and to discuss over all socio-economic their electorate for granted. Committee held a day long political development in the J&K State. The convention at Srinagar on 26th April, Chief spokesman of the Congress Party, Convention discussed threadbare Shri Ravinder Sharma said that bandh forthcoming Urban Local Bodies was complete and which is answer Election and impressed upon the party to arrogance of BJP and its policies cadres to gear up for these elections. of deceit with the people of Jammu The Congress convention unanimously Region after securing their mandate resolved to observe 5th May 2015, as on the promise of ensuring justice and Black Day in Jammu and Kashmir empowerment of people of Jammu State and resolved also that Congress region.

Congress Sandesh | 44 | May 2015 NEWS workers of the Valley will take out about, ‘Make in India’ and ‘Achhe din Minister, Shri Babulal Gaur on 22nd procession and march towards aane wale hain’ but this only sounds like April, 2015. Secretariat where they will protest a dream which will never prove true. The fax was sent to them in regard against the unholy coalition between to on attack on the church in the C.P. these two Parties. PDP secured votes Narrow thinking Colony. It was demanded that the to keep BJP out of Power and the BJP of BJP exposed Government should immediately arrest did the same thing in Jammu. Bhopal: the narrow-mindedness of the hooligans who were involved in It was all drama played by both the the BJP has been exposed within six this unholy act. Congress strongly parties to mislead the people, the months of their coming to power at condemned this act of violence. convention further resolved. That the Centre. Leader of the Opposition, Congress Party will expose both the Shri Ajay Singh said on 22nd April, Restart the work on hospital parties for their anti-poor and anti- 2015 that he strongly objected to the Gwalior: The outer district Congress people policies. statement of Union Minister Vankeya president, Dr. Darshan Singh has urged Naidu that those who speak to protect While Terming this attitude of both the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the rights of the farmers was like a the parties very unfortunate and Union Health Minister, Shri JP Nadda gospel by the devil. embarrassing they said Congress to start the work of setting up Escorts Party will not allow them (PDP-BJP) Shri Ajay Singh said not only this, Hospital at Gola Ka Mandir here. to further mislead the people of Jammu the BJP Government in the state was and Kashmir. removing the names of Smt. Indira Gandhi and Shri Rajiv Gandhi from The Convention also appealed to various ongoing projects and by doing people of the State, Social and other so showed the narrow thinking of the like-minded political parties to support BJP. this call. A Resolution was passed in the Subsidy to small, medium convention unanimously, it was moved industries stopped by Bashir Ahmed Magray and seconded Bhopal: Former leader of the by Senior Congress Leader and Former opposition, Shri Ajay Singh has strongly Shri Darshan Singh has on 24 April, Minister Taj Mohi U Din. objected to the ban being imposed on 2015 sent separate letters to the prime the subsidy being given to the small minister and the Union Health minister MADHYA PRADESH and medium industries from this year. that the hospital which was started with the efforts of the former Union Speaking on 1 April, 2015, Shri Singh Farmers in distress Minister, Shri Madhavrao Scindia said while the BJP was patronizing the Bhopal: Pradesh Congress President, for the better health facilities for the big industries, it was throttling the Shri Arun Yadav said that the farmers of people of the Gwalior and Chambal small and medium industries and the the state were facing unseasonal rains, region should be restarted soon. The survival of these industries has become hailstorms and cold (Pala) which has foundation of the hospital was laid by impossible. been destroying their crops for the past the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi three years. Shri Ajay Singh said that this is the in the year 1988-89. Shri Yadav said on 21st April, 2015 that reason because of which the small and instead of helping the farmers, the BJP medium industries were lagging behind PUNJAB Government of the state was giving in the state. them meager amount in the name of Pro-farmer credentials help and the banks were harassing the Attack on church condemned of Badal and BJP stand farmers to forcibly pay their debts and Gwalior: Outer District Congress thoroughly exposed: Bajwa loan. President, Dr. Darshan Singh sent a Chandigarh: The Punjab Congress fax to the State Chief Minister Shivraj President, Shri Partap Singh Bajwa, On one side the Prime Minister talks Singh Chauhan and the State Home on 20th April, 2015 lashed out at the

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Chief Minister Shri Parkash Singh of the farmers now. He could not go The state Congress chief blamed the Badal for cheating the people and said on berating the Congress at the time Modi government for having failed his alliance partner BJP’s so called when his own party was part of the to come out with adequate package to pro-farmer credentials had already government at the centre. The people compensate the farmers and the victim been completely exposed not only with wanted to know what he was doing had clearly stated the damage to his regard to the land acquisition act but now when the Modi government had crop as the provocation for taking this also on the issue of hike in minimum ditched the farmers. extreme step. For years, the farmers in support prices of farm produce. the countryside had been committing He said Shri Badal should come out suicides but now the incident had “One fails to understand with what face specifically even one decision of this happened in full public view and that you term yesterday’s farmers rally as government that was pro-farmer and too at a rally at Jantar Mantar. political gimmick that was organised pro-farm workers. He pointed out that to protest the land acquisition act it was only now that Punjab had started He said the Modi government was amendments as your own party had feeling the pinch of discrimination ignoring the very basic fact that announced the decision to oppose and that too when Shri Badal’s own country’s security was dependent the bill in the Lok Sabha. Your party government was ruling at the centre upon food security and the very people had issued a detailed press note in which his daughter-in-law was who made this country self-sufficient recommending more than a dozen the Minister. in food were being meted out step- suggestions. However, the very next motherly treatment. Shri Badal also failed to get any day, your MPs unashamedly supported compensation for the farmers. He said the Congress Vice-President the same bill in the Lok Sabha. Can Shri Rahul Gandhi had already taken you share with the people whether over the command of this farmers’ fight Union Minister for Food Processing Bajwa blames govt policies against the Modi government whose Harsimrat Kaur Badal had registered for farmer’s suicide only agenda was the appeasement of her protest when the issue came up in Chandigarh: The Punjab Congress the corporate sector at the cost of the the cabinet or not. You cannot befool chief Shri Partap Singh Bajwa on 22nd farmers and the common people. It was the people all the time and on every April, 2015 while expressing his deep not without reason that the tide had issue”, he told Shri Badal. sense of shock and grief over suicide by turned against the Modi government a Rajasthan farmer at a farmers’ rally in He advised Shri Badal to propose within a period of less than a year, he New Delhi, squarely blamed what he to his government at the centre to added. called as the anti-farmer policies of the replicate the Punjab land act which he pro-corporate was describing as the best model in the government at the centre led by the Yamuna Colony dwellers still country. “You need not tell us the merit Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi. await flats of the Punjab legislation but convince Ludhiana: Delegation of Yamuna the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi “The public hanging by a farmer at colony Pakhowal Road Ward No. 48 about it. Why are you reluctant to meet Jantar Mantar at the farmer’s rally slum dwellers under Yamuna Devi him these days”, he asked. organised by the Aam Aadmi Party and met Ravneet Singh Bittu, MP & Sushil that too just a few metre from the stage He reminded Shri Badal that the hike Malhotra, Sect. Punjab Congress where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the MSP has been much higher Committee & extended all help to them was present has sent shock waves proportionately during the Congress in getting flats in Giaspur, provided across the country. This suicide had regime as against the NDA regime and under UPA Congress government come as a flashpoint to the anti-farmer figure were there for him to compare. under Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban atmosphere building up ever since the He said it was Badal and his party that Modi government took over whose had promised in the manifesto to get first priority has been to dilute the land the MSP fixed on the Swaminathan acquisition bill to appease the corporate committee formula. He wanted to know sector. What has worsened the situation why his government at the centre had is the continuing adverse weather now backtracked from it and what conditions which have damaged the was he doing to protect the interests crops”, he added.

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Renewal Mission. On the occasion he the BJP government in the state and was told that some of the claimants said that facilities for the minorities of the flat have not got alottement have been stopped. He added that of the same, due to the demise of these projects that were started by allottee though they have submitted the Congress should be immediately the evidence of the said legal heirs. But started and asked the Congressmen for this the process of shifting to flats to make a joint effort and struggle for is still in lurch and some of them who the same. have been residing in slum area have Those present were Nisar Chaudhary, not been enlisted since 2007. Though said that this rally will certainly decide Idhan Khan, Amin Ali, Rangrej government has the facilities to provide the future of farmers and farm-labours. Pali, Mukesh Jain, Abdul Kalam, the flats to all the slum dwellers, yet He said the rally will also show that the Adam Sisodia, Mohammad Ashfaq, no survey has been done till 2007. It is farmers of the country were against Khurshid Ahmad, Salim Pathan, Eliyas urged that survey should be conducted the Land Acquisition Ordinance of the Mohammad, Javed Joy, Mahesh LUkad, on the basis of adhar card, ration card Modi Government and added that by Gyas Mohammad, Sardar Baldev Singh, for other evidence of said Jamuna reducing the Corporate Tax it showed Zafran Sageed, Mohammad Hussain, Colony dwellers. that the Modi Government was with with others. Regarding the said matter Shri the corporate class and is against the Shri Khurshid Ahmad conducted the Sushil Malhotra met Shri G.K. Singh interest of the farmers. training camp and Amin Ali thanked Commissioner MCL Ludhiana and the gathering. requested to do the needful keeping Training Camp held in view claimants of the diseased and Jodhpur: The one day training allotment to legal heir. He also added programme for Jodhpur division was that the dwellers who have shifted held on 26 April by the Rajasthan Awareness Padyatra in UP Giaspura residents are also facing the Pradesh Congress Minority Department Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Congress problems due to lack of basic facilities in which representatives from all the Committee organized awareness such as electricity, proper drinking districts participated. water and toilet. Padyatra in all Vidhan Sabha The training session was presided over constituencies of the state to prepare Shri Malhotra also demanded that this by division head Shri Mukhtar Anees the farmers for the ‘Kisan Rally’ to be slum area should be converted into Chisti while Prof. Ayub Khan was the held in Delhi on 19 April, 2015 which children or amusement park, green chief guest and Shri Sandeep Mehta was is against the central government and land area so that nearby resident get the guest of honour. the land acquisition ordinance. fresh air and clean environment.

RAJASTHAN Thousands leave for ‘Kisan Rally’ Jaipur: Indian National Trade Union Congress, Rajasthan Branch (INTUC) Chairman and Pradesh Congress General Secretary, Shri Jagdish Raj On 9 April, 2015, the Congressmen Shrimali flagged-off the fleet of buses, Shri Chisti while giving the details of took out a protest march to all the loaded with farmers and Congress the work being done by the Minority District headquarters against the activist on 18th April, 2015 for department said that it was necessary to BJP government’s anti farmer, anti- attending the ‘Kisan Rally’ to be held propagate the principles and policies of labour and anti-people policies and in Delhi on 19th April, 2015. the Congress. He said that the demands against the land acquisition ordinance. Shri Shrimali, addressing the gathering, of the division were being ignored by

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Congressmen marched from their Hapur, Sabhal, Amroha, Rampur, a meeting was held a the Gandhi respective District and City Congress Muradabad and appealed the district Bhawan on 30th April where the Committee offices and pledged at the and city Congress presidents, to executive committee of the UPCC statues of the great leaders that they motivate, large number of people to and presidents of all districts and City would motivate maximum number attend the ‘Kisan Rally’ in Delhi. Congress Committees were present of farmers to participate in the ‘Kisan and which was addressed by AICC Rally’ in Delhi to be addressed by Meeting held for future action General Secretary and incharge, Shri Madhusudan Mistri and Pradesh Congress president Smt. Sonia Gandhi Lucknow: A meeting was held on 27th President Dr. Nirmal Khatri. and vice-president, Shri Rahul Gandhi April, 2015 at the UPCC headquarters on 19 April. here presided over by Dr. Nirmal Khatri At the end of the meeting a condolence and senior leaders who unanimously The enormous excitement and support resolution was passed for all those decided on the future course of action. who died of the recent earthquake and seen in the Padyatra by people and of those farmers who died because farmers showed that the changes which It was decided that the Congress Party of the damage to their crops due to the Modi government wants to bring would launch its protest at all Block unseasonal rains and hail-storms. in the land acquisition Bill through an headquarters by burning the copies of Prayers were held for the peace of their ordinance is anti-farmer and is against the Land Acquisition Ordinance. souls and consolation to their family their rights. The Congress Party will On the occasion, AICC General members. never accept this changed ordinance. Secretary and incharge of UP, Shri By this Padyatra, the Congress Party Those prominently present in this Madhusudan Mistri in his address meeting were Leader of the Legislature, wants to remove the doubt in the minds urged Congressmen to be prepared to Shri Pradeep Mathur and Leader of of the people which is being spread continue their protest against the anti- the Legislative Assembly, Shri Naseeb by the Modi government and for the people policies of the Centre and the Pathan, AICC Secretary Shri Juber farmers who are desperately crying for State Governments, and stressed that Khan, Shri Prakash Joshi and Shri Sanjay help as their produce has perished in the time has come to tell people about Kapur, MLA, former Pradesh Congress the unseasonal rains and hail-storms. the Congress principles and policies President, Shri Sreeprakash Jaiswal, The centre and the state governments to the lowest level of the society and to Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi and Shri are just making fake promises on the expose the doubt being spread by the Arun Kumar Singh, former Minister name of making surveys. Thousands Modi Government. Pradeep Jain Aditya, Shri Akhlesh of farmers have committed suicides or Pratap Singh, MLA, Shri Gajraj Singh, have died due to the shock because of Shri Ajay Rai, former Minister, Amman the damaged crops. The Congress will Rizvi, Shri Ramakrishna Dwivedi, Shri carry on its agitation so that the farmers Satyadev Tripathi, Shri Ranjit Singh get proper compensation. Dr. Nirmal Judev, Shri Rajbahadr, Shri Praveen Khatri addressed the Padyatra when Singh Aneon, Smt. Annu Tandon, it reached ‘bakshi ka talab’ Vidhan Shri Bhagwati Prasad Chaudhary, Sabha area in Lucknow District and Shri Bhudhar Narain Mishra, Hafeez also appealed the people to attend the Mohammad Ummar, Bhola Pandey, ‘Kisan Rally’ in Delhi on 19 April in K.K. Sharma, Rameshwar Prasad, Shri large number. It was also decided in the meeting Sheraz Mehandi, Rajeshpati Tripathi, of the senior leaders that wherever Shri Ameer Hyder, Prahalad Dwivedi, From 13 April to 17 April, AICC farmers have been compelled to commit Ms. Ansuia Sharma, Dr. Lalti Devi, Shri general secretary, Shri Madhusudan suicides due to unseasonal rains and B.P. Singh, Shri Kaniska Pandey also Mistri, Pradesh Congress president, hail-storms, the Congressmen will go addressed the meeting. Dr. Nirmal Khatri and leader of the and try to share the pain and grief of Legislative Assembly, Shri Nasib Pathan the relative of that farmer and give all Padyatra to awaken farmers and coin charge, Shri Naseeb Singh possible help to them. attended the Padyatra in Western Aligarh: Prior to the ‘Kisan Rally’ to districts of Ghaziabad, Noida, Meerut, To make this programme more strong, be held in Delhi on 19th April, 2015,

Congress Sandesh | 48 | May 2015 NEWS the Congressmen, led by Shri Vivek 2015. The padyatra was led by working TRIBUTES Bansal, Spokesperson of the AICC took president, Shri Amit Srivastav ‘Tyagi’. Nation pays tribute to our freedom out a padyatra here on 12th April, 2015 fighters and distinguished leaders. City Congress Media incharge, Shri to enlighten the rural people and the Ramgopal Singh said the padyatra in farmers about the ‘Kisan Rally’. the Vidhan Sabha constituency was a The Padyatra commenced from protest against the anti-people policies Damodar Apartments, Sarai of the Modi Government and against Harnarayan to Madrak. The padyatra the Land Acquisition Ordinance. Dr. Zakir Hussain took a massive proportion as people Death Anniversary Prominently present were AICC leader 3rd May and farmers joined the padyatra on Shri Vibhakar Shastri, Shri Ramkishore (1897-1969) their way. Thousands had gathered on Shukla, Shri Ganesh Pandey, Shri reaching Madrak where a large meeting Ramesh Srivastav, Amit Srivastav, was held. Onkarnath Singh, Vivendra Madan, Sanjeev Singh, Pramod Singh, Shyam Narayan Tiwari, K.K. Shukla, Yogendra Singh Negi, Imran Ali Khan, Dinesh Singh, Rishab Mishra with others. Pt Motilal Nehru Birth Anniversary 6th May NSUI homage to (1861-1931) Gajendra Singh Lucknow: National Students’ Union of India, Uttar Pradesh unit, led by the Preadesh President, Kanishka Pandey The meeting was addressed by Congress paid homage to Shri Gajendra Singh, a Gopal Krishna Gokhale Party observer Shri Surendra Pratap farmer who committed sucide at Jantar Birth Anniversary Goel, former MP, Chaudhary Bijendra Mantar in New Delhi. 9th May Singh, former MP, Shri Vivek Bansal (1866-1915) and Shri Upendra Singh who told The NSUI paid homage by lighting the farmers about the changes in the candles at the foot of Gandhiji’s statue original Land Acquisition Bill passed at Phool Bagh here on 23rd April, in 2013 by the UPA Government. 2015. A condolence meeting was also held there. Shri Pandey while paying Fakhruddin Ali Awareness Padyatra homage said that farmers in the country Ahmed Lucknow: The City Congress were committing suicides because Birth Anniversary Committee organized the public of the damage caused by unseasonal 13th May (1905-1977) awareness padyatra here on 16th April, rain and hailstorms but the Modi government was insensitive to this issue of the farmers.

He said Shri Gajendra committed suicide in front of the Chief Minister of Delhi and the people instead of Sukhdev saving him were making videos on their Birth Anniversary v mobiles. 15th May (1907-1931)

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We have started publishing a series of a special interview with the grass-root workers of the Congress Party. The first such interview was published in the July, 2014 issue. -Editor­ Interview with a dedicated congressperson Born on 21st May, 1926, at village Masjid Moth (Delhi), Shri Satpal Saini was arrested in 1942 at the age of 16 years in the freedom movement. He is at present residing at Delhi and is still very active in social service. - Interviewed by Dr. Jaya Shukla Q. When and how did you come in contact with the techniques, irrigation systems, facilities to Gandhian and Congress principles? farmers, creating agricultural scientists, all this A. When I was a teenager, the whole country was was done only by Congress. Governments of pining for freedom, and specially youth was agitated. other parties did none of these, only helped I belonged to a farmer’s family and studied at the Urdu their own interests. It is through the plans of medium school in my village. Alongwith my friends, the Congress Governments, that the country is I was also feeling this agitation. Everybody was entering the advanced nations’ category. getting news of Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress Q. Who were your ideals? movement. We all had deep respect for Gandhiji. A. Mahatma Gandhi and Pt. Nehru. Gandhiji Q. When did you become an active Congress worker? was the teacher for all of us, and we absorbed A. Shri K.C. Deka was married in Delhi. He had a his philosophy of life. Till date I have been office at Fauvvara, Chandani Chowk. We were eager to actively spinning thread and wearing its cloth. Now, I spin the thread work towards Independence, and saw the Congress movement and exchange it at the Khadi Bhandar for khadi cloth that I as a way to it. So, we became 4 anna members of the Congress wear. Nehruji was my inspiration due to his energy and vision. through Shri Deka. “Do or Die” had started in 1942, when I I used to go to him a lot and got guidance. was 16 years old. I used to take school boys and others and take Q. What difference do you find in the Congress now since then? out processions and was considered their leader. Most work A. Mahatmaji had told us about not getting any spots on our had to be done underground. I was arrested and jailed for 6 white kahdi. When we met him. Now it appears there are some months. After 6 months a condition of no more participating spots. Most of the other parties were created by Congressmen, in the Congress movement was put to me. I refused and my jail their agendas and principles were shown to appear like that of sentence was extended for 2 more months. Since then, till now, the Congress. So the Congress which earlier appeared unique I have done Congress work with sincerity. and brilliant does not appear thus. We need to remember our Q. Which is your most important memory as a Congressman? principles and ideals and give selfless and sensitive dedication A. Mahatma Gandhi was staying at the Birla House. We were to the society. 6-7 boys who went to meet him. He was talking while spinning Today most parties use the calculations of data of caste, the Charkha. Shri Brajkishore Chandiwale (Head of “Bharat religion, state, language, etc. for electioneering. The Congress, Sewak Samaj”) was with us. He asked Gandhiji why we wore that had created one caste of “Indians”, overcoming the barriers only white khadi while others wear coloured clothes. Gandhiji of caste, religion, language, needs to keep that image intact. gave a very meaningful answer. He said that if a cloured cloth gets a spot on it of any colour, it will mix and not show much, Q. in your opinion, what needs to be done to re-strengthen the but even a single spot on a white cloth will be very visible, and Congress and to attract the youth? so the wearer will carefully keep his cloth spotless. This will be A. It is very necessary to strengthen the organization. Activists the strength of Congress. should selflessly and with sensitivity help the weak and the needy. Pro-Congress NGOs run by Congress activists are the Q. What is the role of Congress in nation-building? best means for this, which will also be visible to the populace. A. Congress got us Independence. But the work even bigger The Congress activists may be given a card or a certificate than joining all the principalities into one single country, was and they should work in all cities, villages, localities. It will joining the very souls of all the countrymen. The society was be seen that the Congress is helping all categories and classes, divided into castes and religions. All Indians crossed all these irrespective of religion, caste, language. The average voter barriers and became a single caste, “Indian”. Only Congress today is fed up of politics based upon caste and religion, and is brought development, and it was done in each field and for angry. It is important for the Congress to appear above these each category. Especially the farmers, who are the backbone considerations, like the earlier Congress. Activists will work of our country, were benefitted only through the Congress. with such dedicated sincerity only when they understand Making infertile land fertile, farming through advanced the high principles and self-sacrificing history of Congress.

continued on page 50 Congress Sandesh | 50 | May 2015 Press Briefings

Dal (U), DMK, Shiv Sena are once again thinking on it and after all this, I do not think that this ordinance will be passed in the Rajya Sabha. We will strongly oppose this and I want to repeat that we have five important issues were the main AICC DIARY principle of the Bill. Changes have been made in the 2013 land Bill and we will oppose it. Wednesday, 1st April, 2015 Intemperate and distasteful On increasing prices of things remarks Spokesperson: Shri RPN Singh and Shri Jairam Ramesh: He Spokesperson Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala: He said India said that the new Railway Budged comes into force from today National Congress strongly deprecates and condemns the and the price of daily use commodities has gone up. If we intemperate and distasteful remarks of Union Minister, Shri talk about farmer’s interest, the price of urea has also gone up Giriraj Singh bordering on insanity. It appears that continuous because the Railways has increased the freight charges by then quest to appease Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has percent. Railway platform ticket has also increases to Rs. 10 made him lose his balance. Such remarks are reflective of lack from today. So the present Rail Budget has increased the price of moral fiber in BJP and its cadre. of daily use items. This government had promised that they would take care of vegetables and daily use items and would Shri Giriraj Singh is known for similar vexation in the past. not allow the price to be increased but that too has increased In the run-up to the 2014 Parliamentary elections, he asked by about 60 percent. As far as the price of cereals, wheat and everybody opposing Shri Narendra to leave India and go to foodgrains in concerned, their prices have increased because Pakistan. Perhaps, he is the only person who refused to reclaim levy has increased due to increased freight charges and thus Rs.1.14 crore of currency as also US dollars recovered by their prices are likely to increase more. When elections were police after apprehending those who committed a theft in his due, they said the prices were sky-high but they in their first house. For conduct of this nature, he was rewarded by Prime budget have done the work of increasing the prices of things Minister, Shri Narendra Modi by appointing him as a Minister of daily use. in Union Cabinet. Current Modi Cabinet and BJP MPs appear to outdo each On land acquisition ordinance other in this boisterously shameful conduct. We recently Shri Jairam Ramesh said that the Modi Cabinet passed a new saw Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, another Union Minister, pass land acquisition ordinance. In this ordinance nine charges have ‘Raamzada’ vs. Haraamzada’ remarks during Delhi elections. been made in the land bill that was passed in the Lok Sabha. It , another prominent BJP leader and Member is amazing that on the one side Rural Development Minister of its National Executive, recently called Mahatama Gandhi’s Chaudhary Virendra Singh says that they have no objection, killer Nathuram Godse as a martyr and a great Nationalist if the consent of the farmer provision is changed, we will besides describing women to produce 12 children. Another welcome it. On the other side Shri Nitin Gadkari who can be Union Minister, Shri V.K. Singh has in the past almost branded assured as a de-facto Rural Development Minister, he gave a the Indian Army Chief as a criminal and has recently again statement and a letter too was sent to the Congress President expressed disgust through twitter in performing his duties as and we want a debate on it. We also got the invitation for the a minister. debate. But the ordinance that has come, there is no change, the same nine changes that was passed in the Lok Sabha and it Prime Minister must dismiss such Minister and apologize to does not contain any change about the provision of getting the the Nation.” Wednesday, April 04, 2015. consent of the farmer. Same changes and the same ordinance US-Iran relation on Nuclear issue has been given. I feel that the statements on this issue both Spokesperson Shri : He said that Indian by Shri Nitin Gadkari and Chaudhary Virendra Singh is just National Congress welcomes the understanding reached for show and can be said to misguide the people and it has no between Iran and the USA, Russia, France, UK, Germany and meaning whatsoever. It is very clear from this that the Modi China on the contentious Nuclear issue. The end of years of Government wants to bring the ordinance on the basis of deadlock and the ‘Lausanne’ Framework agreement, on the these nine changes. I have written a long letter to Shri Nitin parameters of a comprehensive settlement by 30th of June Gadkari from then and which are baseless and the allegations 2016, is a development of great significance. This will surely that are being alleged are totally false. I want to tell you again contribute towards regional stability and also in phasing out that the Congress Party is stead fast and opposed to it that we of the Financial and Economic Sanctions against Iran. would not accept any changes in the 2013 land acquisition Bill. When the bill will come up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha It has been a consistent view of the Indian National Congress, and when our campaign against it is going and the 2013 land that, the Iran Nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully Bill is non-negotiable and no compromise will be made. Many through diplomacy and dialogue. It was therefore important other political parties like TMC, BSP, , Janta that, Iran’s right to peaceful uses of Nuclear Energy are recognized and respected while fully addressing International

Congress Sandesh | 51 | MAY 2015 Press Briefings

Community’s concern, that, Iran’s Nuclear Programme remains and Industry is delusional, unwarranted and a poor attempt of exclusively peaceful. misleading the people. Instead of giving an account of the BJP The understanding reached with the association of the IAEA government’s performance or achievements after the National is reassuring. This should now result in a lasting solution that Executive of the BJP in Bangalore, her calculated statement of meets the satisfaction of all the concerned parties. Saturday, ‘Congress Mukt Bharat’ is a poor diversionary tactic to divert 4th April, 2015. attention from the dismal performance of the BJP government and non-fulfillment of the tall promises made to the people. It Modi’s Government refusal to is only a matter of time when people of this country will make provide adequate compensation to it a ‘Modi Mukt Bharat’. the suffering farmers The Minister needs to be educated about the commendable Spokesperson Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala :Reacting to achievements of the UPA government. India’s GDP quadrupled ’s blatant refusal to provide adequate from 500 billion US Dollars to a trillion US Dollars during compensation for damaged crops to farmers and unilateral 2004-14. Per Capita Income increased almost three-folds from diktat qua arbitrary procurement standards, Randeep Rs.24,000/- in 2004 Rs.69,000/- in 2014. Foreign Exchange Singh Surjewala, Incharge Communications, AICC has Reserves of the country went up from US$ 118 billion to US$ issued following statement to the Press today:- 310 billion between 2004 and 2014. Exports had increased from US$ 60 billion in 2004 to US$ 320 billion in 2014 i.e. “Untimely rains, hailstorms and high velocity winds have over 500%. The congress does not need any certificate from destructed over 170 lakh hectares of Rabi crops in 14 States the BJP on the record of its performance, it is borne out from causing damage of over Rs.40,000 crore. facts. In fact the BJP has to answer for the present state of Modi Government’s deplorable decision, as disclosed by Niti affairs. Sunday, 5th April, 2015. Aayog Vice-Chairman Shri Arvind Panagariya, expressing inability of the Finance Ministry to adequately compensate the A bundle of falsehood by Modi farmers for damaged crops is a severe body blow to the farming Spokesperson Shri C.P. Joshi: He said that “Prime Minister, community already reeling under severe distress. Coming as it Shri Narendra Modi is once again misleading, misguiding and does on the heels of the draconian Land Acquisition Ordinance hoodwinking the farmers of India by announcing deceptive yesterday, it reaffirms the inherently ingrained anti-farmer relief packages without providing much needed help and prejudice of Modi Government. succor to the anguished and distressed farmers. Recent What is equally shocking is the statement of Union Minister hailstorms, unprecedented rains and high velocity winds have for Agriculture Shri Radha Mohan Singh absolving the Central caused damage to nearly 180 hectares (447.07 lakh acres) of Government of responsibility to pay compensation by asking Rabi crops in 14 States causing damage of Rs.40,000 crores as the States to first pay compensation to farmers from State per agricultural experts and scientists,. Disaster Response Funds (SDRF) and then use ‘Contingency Alleged relaxation of percentages for crops damage and so- Funds’ at the State level. According to Agricultural Ministry, it called enhancement of compensation by Shri Narendra Modi is only thereafter that demands for relief from National Disaster yesterday is another cruel political gimmick to dupe and Response Funds (NDRF) may be sent to Government of India deceive the gullible farmers of India. by State governments. This is a classic case of ‘putting the cart Indian National Congress would like to place the following before the bullock’ and expression of a clear intent to not pay falsehoods:- any compensation to farmer. Assertion of Vice-Chairman of Niti Aayog refusing to pay adequate compensation to farmers (1) Relief for damaged crops has been restricted to a maximum reaffirms the same. of two hectares or five acres. This will automatically deny 50% of farmers the benefit of compensation. (Please see letter dated To add insult to the injury, an ‘Inter-Ministerial Group’, headed 8th April, 2015 of Ministry of Home, Disaster Management by Union Home Ministry Shri Rajnath Singh and comprising Division, Government of India, para 5(ii) of Annexure www. of Union Agriculture Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh and ndmindia.nic.in). Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley have summarily rejected the demand of farming community and landless labourers, (2) As a double jeopardy, crop damaged area is being reduced duly recommended by Food Ministry of Government of India, manifold by Government of India. to enhance wheat allocation to the affected families under the On 26th March, 2015; Shri Narendra Modi held a video Public Distribution System in areas, where crops have seen conference with the States and reduced the area eligible for extensive damage on account of vagaries of weather. crop compensation from 181 lakh hectares (447.07 acres) to 106 lakh hectares (261.82 lakh acres). Copy of press release UPA Performance dated 26th March, 2015 of Agricultural Ministry is attached. Spokesperson Shri R.P.N. Singh: He said that “Bitter criticism of previous Congress-led UPA Government’s performance by Officials of the Agricultural Ministry, post PM’s announcement Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State (i/c) for Commerce of yesterday, are estimating the crop damaged area as 80 lakh

Congress Sandesh | 52 | May 2015 Press Briefings hectares (197.60 lakh acres). and whose GDP was increased four times during the past Hence, eligible area for crop compensation has been effectively ten years of UPA rule and which was not 5 hundred billion reduced, even as per government assessment, from 181 lakh dollars when UPA come to power in 2004 and left with over hectares (447.07 lakh acres) to 80 lakh hectares (197.60 lakh two trillion dollars which is the GDP of India. In comparison acres) i.e. a reduction of 101 lakh hectares (249.47 lakh acres). to previous year, the exports have gone down. The world economy has slowed down and during the period of UPA-2, Once, this area is further reduced by 50% based on the India was in the first three countries, FDI and for foreign maximum two hectares eligible norms, actual area eligible for exchange. This is the same India which they have named scam crop compensation, as per government, would get reduced to India and showed India in poor light as if nothing has been near 40 lakh hectares (98.8 lakh acres). achieved in India. In 2006, India got the honour of becoming This is a deceptive and clever ploy to deny crop compensation the first country, which launched ten satellites, both nano and to farmers. Thursday, 9th April, 2015. big, in orbit within one thousand seconds. In 2008, India had launched its rocket towards the journey to Mars and all this Insult of the Nation and the People reveals that the Prime Minister Modi is of sick mentality. No Spokesperson Shri Anand Sharma: He said that the Prime Prime Minister has before left his attenuate and the honour Minister of India Narendra Modi talks in such a way whenever of his position and this credence goes to Shri Narendra Modi he makes a tour outside the country that not only lowers the and the BJP who have broken the tradition. prestige of the Prime Minister’s position but has also insulted Shri Anand Sharma said that I want to say one thing because and lowered the dignity of the nation and the people. In his you have started this. Prime Minister Sir, are you hearing? You recent visit to Germany Prime Minister had said that now, have formed a habit of speaking in this way and henceforth India will not beg was India begging before this? What was when you are on a visit and if the Congress Spokesperson the period when India begged by spreading its arms? We treat is there in that country, then he would give a prompt reply this as an insult of our nation. India has always helped the poor if you make such a statement and we shall not tolerate this nations. India has got its own sources and resources. For long, anymore. You must have seen that Narendra Modi creates India is a member of the G-20 for long, we did not become such an atmosphere that people start praising him because member after the coming of Narendra Modi. In Canada he gave he is a great even manage and does not require any publicity a wrong statement, forgetting that he was not on the Indian agency, he does it himself. When he was making a speech land and is going out as the Prime Minister of India and not as in Canada, the Prime Minister of Canada and his wife were the pracharak of the BJP and the RSS. He has talked against all also present there. He said that a Prime Minister of India was the previous governments, particularly the UPA Government visiting Canada after 42 years, it has taken 42 years for any and said that he has come to clean the accumulated dirt and Indian Prime Minister to come to Canada, but I have come here said bitter talk about the UPA Government. He also tried within ten month of becoming the Prime Minister. He should to show that there was no achievements in the country and not make such statements which is against the facts. He should India only emerged in the world map after coming of Modi be aware of the fact that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Government in 16th May, 2014. Narendra Modi is the first had visited United States in 2005 and addressed the session Prime Minister who has floored the image of India in political of US Parliament where he was given a warm welcome which perspective in the world because no Prime Minister had earlier was not given to Shri Modi. In June, 2010, Prime Minister Dr. said so damaging talks abroad and about the opposition party Manmohan Singh went on a three-day State visit to Canada and said that he inherited scam India as the legacy. India is not and gave a joint statement with Canadian Prime Minister a scam. India is a great nation with big cultural heritage and has Stephen Harper who is presently there. Wednesday, 17th great achievements. India is a strong country, is a self-reliant April, 2015. country. They inherited a strong India with strong economy

Congress Sandesh | 53 | MAY 2015 Congress Vice President’s Amethi Visit

“Modiji went to China, Mongolia, US, Canada and other Rahul Gandhi gives Modi countries. But in the last one year of his government assuming power, he has not visited the house of one farmer in India, who govt. ‘zero out of 10’; is facing crop loss,” Rahul told farmers in Amethi’s Inhauna slams it over food park area Targeting NDA as a government of industrialists, Rahul in Amethi told farmers: “This Modi government is not a government of farmers, middle class, small businessmen or poor. This is ating the year-old Narendra Modi government a zero on not your government, this is a government of two or three 10, Congress Vice-President Shri Rahul Gandhi accused it R Industrialist friends of Modiji.” on 18th May, 2015 of playing “vendetta politics”, as he vowed to fight for a mega food park project in his constituency that Rahul also undertook a 2-km padyatra to the proposed site — was cancelled by the Centre. in Jagdishpur industrial area — for a food park that was recently cancelled by the Modi government. Addressing farmers from Shri Rahul Gandhi, on a three-day trip to Amethi to met an SUV there, Rahul alleged: “They want to take revenge on cultivators who have suffered crop loss because of inclement me. They want to hurt me but in the process, they have hurt weather, also took a dig at the Prime Minister’s frequent foreign farmers, which has made me sad.” visits and said he did not have time for farmers back home. For the entire day, Rahul held several Kisan panchayats and “Had the food park been set up, it would have changed the spoke to farmers. fate of farmers. By cancelling it, the Modi government has dealt a blow to farmers. He has snatched it from them and At Haswa village, he told farmers how his dream to build a food not from me. We will put pressure on the government to get park for farmers of Amethi, Rae Bareli and adjoining districts it back,” he said at a public meeting. “The PM went to the US, has been shattered by the Modi government. “I wanted to help Canada, China and Mongolia, but has not visited the houses of you get rid of middlemen and directly sell your produce. The hailstorm-hit farmers.” food park would have changed your lives, but BJP, NDA and the Modi government turned it down because of revenge politics.” Shri Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly stoked a raging row over the Shaktiman Mega Food Park that the Centre scrapped as the With Haswa residents complaining that they have not received project failed to take off in the five years from the time it was compensation for crop loss, Rahul went on to summon the sub- sanctioned. divisional magistrate of the area and asked him to promise the farmers that their issues will be resolved in a week. The Lok Sabha lawmaker got out of his car and trekked two kilometres under the sizzling sun to the site where the food Speaking to farmers at Shankarganj, Rahul attacked the park was to be built, as hundreds of people scampered behind Centre on the Land Acquisition Bill. “The government run by him. industrialists will acquire acres of your land at a very low price and sell it in square-feet to industrialists for crores.” “Our government is neither in the state nor at the Centre but we (Congress) shall do all that is best in the interest of the Informing farmers about various provisions of the Bill that public,” he said. was brought during UPA regime, Rahul said: “They (NDA) want the future of your children to go into the pockets of “The move of BJP-led government has affected farmers and Modi’s industrialist friends. Your land is your Gold and prized labourers of Amethi and 10 neighbouring districts. The Centre possession, thus, I want you to join me in this battle, which is wanted to take revenge from me, but the move has affected yours.” farmers,” he said, while he also blamed the government for favouring capitalists. “If we talk of farmers and labourers, I will At a panchayat, Rahul also took a jibe at BJP’s “achhe din” give zero out of 10 (to the Modi government)... (But) if some before the Lok Sabha elections. “Have you seen achhe din in industrialists and corporate houses are concerned, I will give the last one year?” he asked farmers. v 10 out of 10.” continued from page 46 Interview with a dedicated Congressperson They may attend camps for gaining this may be shown in schools, youth clubs, Q. What are your interests other than the knowledge. etc. Through NGOs, meeting-places Congress? with lunch, and ashrams for senior The youth is honest and really wants to A. Agriculture. Improving the crops citizens will create a Pro-Congress do good work. Dedicated work by Pro- through new techniques. We had feeling in their whole family, especially Congress NGOs will definitely attract developed the vegetables grown in our in the villages, because these senior them. Also documentaries about the village so nicely, that the cauliflower was citizens are the heads of their families. v freedom fighter Congress leaders’ lives exported to the USA.

Congress Sandesh | 54 | May 2015