archive: Kargil conflict to be a poll issue: Govindacharya
Kargil conflict to be a poll issue: Govindacharya
Sudhanshu Mishra
The Observer
June 29, 1999
Title: Kargil conflict to be a poll issue: Govindacharya
Author: Sudhanshu Mishra
Publication: The Observer
Date: June 29, 1999
Owing to its very nature and circumstances, the Kargil conflict had
become an "election issue" for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, said
Bharatiya Janata Party leader K N Govindacharya, here on Monday.
Addressing a press conference, he opined that as the issue had gripped
the minds of the people in view of the Kashmir problem, the aggression
In the region by the Pakistani army and intruders was bound to make
Kargil an election issue. The BJP leader however, clarified that the
BJP never wanted the issue to turn political.
He however, maintained that the available Information indicated that
the Kargil conflict was likely to be over within two weeks.
Replying to a question, he asserted that there was no necessity to
call a special Rajya Sabha session, as demanded certain parties, to
discuss the Kargil issue.
"It would not serve any purpose to resolve the war like crisis," he
maintained and added that the issue could be discussed among political
parties at different fora, like all party meeting etc.
He, however, held that the issue of a special session would be
thrashed out at the all party meeting.
Party president Kushabhau Thakre, who reached here from Ahmedabad to
address the meeting of the State unit's office bearers on Monday
morning, rushed back to Delhi, within an hour of his arrival, to
attend the all party meeting in the National Capital.
He, however, made a. brief appearance at the meeting which was called
to galvanise the party machinery for the ensuing elections and also
for taking stock of the preparation for the same.
Earlier, the press conference was to be addressed by Mr Thakre but
following an SOS from New Delhi, he had to leave and Mr Govindacharya
was entrusted with the task of addressing the press.
When a correspondent invited Mr Govindacharya's comment on the fact
that the bunkers built by the Indian army in the hills of the Kargil
region were left unguarded which enabled the intruders to occupy them,
he pointed out that the very terrain, topography, altitude and
climatic conditions were responsible for the same. Army on both the
sides used to come down during that climate every year, but this time
the Pakistani army intruded the area under a special scheme.
He informed that the party had decided to launch a public awakening
programme before elections to educate the people on the Kashmir
problem, aggression in Kargil, its background and the series of
events.
Party workers were being asked to contact and co-operate with the
families of the army jawans, who had sacrificed their lives in Kargil,
he said.
He denied that on the Kargil issue there was any difference in
approach between the party and the Government.
Comment:
Title: 'Kargil issue will be reflected in Cong manifesto' (Interview
with Shivraj Patil)
Publication: The Observer
Date: June 29, 1999
Q: What about Kargil? Will it be reflected in the manifesto?
A: Obviously, the Kargil issue will be reflected in the manifesto. As
far as the very issue is concerned, the Congress is very clear on it
from the day one. We shall accommodate the party's view in the right
perspective.
(Shivraj Patil, former Lok Sabha Speaker and Congress chairman)
Back
Top
|
