archive: Sonia not mature enough to hold PM's post: CPI(M)
Sonia not mature enough to hold PM's post: CPI(M)
Press Trust of India
The Observer
June 9, 1999
Title: Sonia not mature enough to hold PM's post: CPI(M)
Author: Press Trust of India
Publication: The Observer
Date: June 9, 1999
Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo member and LDF convener V
S Achuthanandan has said that the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was "not
mature enough" to hold the post of Prime Minister of India, which
called for unexceptionable administrative skills.
In an interview to the CPI(M) daily Deshabhimani the Left Democratic
Front convener however said that there was no technical objection
whatsoever in her becoming the Prime Minister as she was an Indian
citizen.
"Wherever she was born, she is an Indian citizen now," Mr
Achuthanandan affirmed.
There was no technical hitch in her becoming the Prime Minister, he
stated, adding that "her foreign origin should not be made an issue."
"At the same time," he said, "Sonia Gandhi lacks the maturity to hold
the post of the Prime Minister of a diverse and problem-ridden country
like India."
Mr Achuthanandan further Pointed out that India was the Most POPUIOUS
country after China and felt that a thorough understanding of the
complexities of Indian society and practical experience of handling
them were essential for a person holding the Prime Minister's post.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and Politburo member
said that Mrs Sonia Gandhi, within a short period of her becoming the
national President of the Congress, had doubtless exposed her
inability to handle organisational problems.
"When Sharad Pawar and his colleagues raised the foreign-origin issue,
Ws Sonia Gandhi could not face the problem with equanimity. Carried
away by emotions, she quit the post."
"She should have faced the problem with courage," he pointed out.
"She should have stated there and then that only elected Lok Sabha
members would decide the question of Prime Minister," Mr Achuthanandan
said.
Mr Achuthanandan also clarified that the Congress leaders were
"day-dreaming", if they thought that the party would get a majority on
its own in the next polls.
"The Congress was still not a force to reckon with In many big states
including Uttar Pradesh while its hopes in Maharashtra had been dashed
with Pawar breaking away," he said.
Lashing out at the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mr Achuthanandan said that
the party's 13-month rule had only concentrated on placing Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) men in key posts in all areas and unleashing
attacks on minorities.
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