The drubbing defeat in the recent Assembly elections notwithstanding, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday took a swipe on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and their role in the national politics.
In his address to the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting, the PM advised there should be no false promises by leaders and that none should talk about firm leadership without specifying a purpose it would be used for.
Taking a dig at Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party, Singh said promises which are outside the realm of possibilities should not be made. “Assembly elections in a few States are not necessarily an indication of what will happen in general elections that follows some months later. We know this from the past,” he said, which is perhaps his first major reaction after the poll debacle of Congress.
“Unlike some other political parties, our work programme for future must not be based only on promises, which lie outside the realm of possibility. Nor should we simply talk of firm leadership and decisiveness without talking of what the leadership will be used for and what decisions will be taken,” Singh said.
The PM’s remarks came in the backdrop of Congress leaders repeatedly maintaining that elections are about policies and programmes and not personalities. To boost the morale of MPs, Singh reminded them of what had happened when NDA did well in the Assembly polls in 2003 but it was UPA that came to power at the Centre in 2004.
For her part, hitting out at the BJP, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said, “Our opponents advocate policies of divisiveness and sectarian interests. They mock our secular ethos. Their ideology is illiberal and will prevent the continuing modernisation and emancipation of our country and our people.”
Sonia told partymen not to be afraid of speaking about their ideals. “We must not be afraid to speak against those, who offer only a narrow and destructive alternative,” she said. The Congress chief rued that the Opposition spent much time and energy in making personal attacks on Congress leaders including the Prime Minister. BJP has been repeatedly targeting the Prime Minister, accusing him of providing “weak leadership” to the country and commenting on Rahul Gandhi’s stature as Shehzada.
later at the AICC briefing, Congress hailed party vice president Rahul Gandhi’s “key role” in the passage of the historic lokpal Bill in Parliament. “Rahul played a key role in the passage of the lokpal Bill. There is a message in Rahul’s sentiments that Congress gives utmost priority to people’s aspirations,” party spokesperson Raj Babbar said.
As to whether the winter session of Parliament may be extended or a special session called to pass some of the pending important bills, Babbar said that it could “happen if there is a consensus between the ruling alliance and the Opposition and if the Chairs (of the two houses) agree to it”.