Congress factionalism
surfaces
It became a virtual show of strength
for the rival factions of the state Congress as two different functions
were held in Gandhinagar to commemorate the 58th anniversary of the
Quit India Movement. The rebel faction led by Madhavsinh Solanki held
its function at the Town Hall in Gandhinagar under the aegis of Gandhinagar
District Congress Committee and the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee’s
official function was held at Ch-5 in Gandhinagar. The Town hall was
filled to its capacity as more than 2,000 people attended the function.
However, the main function called by Mr C.D. Patel had a scarce audience.
Former chief minister Madhavsinh
Solanki said that the Opposition must unite itself to dislodge the BJP
government both in the state and at the Centre. He flayed the Vajpayee
government for its inability to protect the lives of the innocent people,
who were massacred while on their way to Amarnath. He gave a call of
"BJP sarkar chhodo" (BJP quit the government) on the lines of
the "Angrezo Bharat Chhodo" call given by Mahatma Gandhi during
the Quit India Movement.
Former Union finance minister
and senior Congress leader B.K. Gadhvi of the Madhavsinh group, said
that it was necessary to field strong candidates in the forthcoming
municipal elections. He said if appropriate candidates are not fielded,
then they will be forced to move the Congress high command in New Delhi.
He said the party had the legacy to produce towering leaders but the
reigns had been handed over to "incapable" men, who were responsible
for the defeat of the Congress in the Lok Sabha as well as Assembly
elections.
Meanwhile, C.D. Patel addressed
party workers and general public at Gandhinagar and criticised the state
government for its failure to tackle the deteriorating law and order
situation in Gujarat. He said the common man will seek an answer from
the BJP for its mal-administration and misrule in the forthcoming municipal
and panchayat elections.
Leader of the Opposition
Amarsinh Chaudhary, who came to the venue when the function had almost
finished, said the state government functioned at the instance of the
relatives of the chief minister Keshubhai Patel. He said that state
BJP was misusing power to suppress the resentment voiced by them over
the state government policies.
Republished from Asian
Age
