archive: Mulayam justifies shattering Sonia's dreams to be the PM
Mulayam justifies shattering Sonia's dreams to be the PM
Our Political Bureau
The Economic Times
May 11, 1999
Title: Mulayam justifies shattering Sonia's dreams to be the PM
Author: Our Political Bureau
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: May 11, 1999
In a clear attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who had accused
him in Lucknow recently of aiding the BJP by withholding support to
the Congress, Mulayam Singh Yadav today justified his party's decision
to not elevate the main opposition to power.
"For both personal gains and political reasons, Ms Gandhi would have
undermined the very democracy, economic sovereignty and independence
of the country," he said. "The Samajwadi Party is proud that, by not
supporting Ms Sonia Gandhi, it has saved the country from becoming a
puppet in the hands of foreign forces even while strengthening the
Third Front," Mr Yadav added.
In an article headlined "Who are the real friends of the BJP?" penned
by him, the chief of the Samajwadi Party, who appears to be
increasingly jittery about the Congress' plans to poach on his
votebank in UP, maintained "It was Ms Sonia Gandhi who paved the way
for the growth of communalism by not taking the initiative early
enough against the BJP. Thus, she allowed it to grow roots in power."
Crucially, Mr Yadav did not spare the CPM, CPI and even bosom ally in
the RLM, Laloo Prasad Yadav, for the soft corner they nursed for the
Congress, notwithstanding Mr H K S Surjeet's recent reiteration of
support to the SP.
In an apparent reference to those of his friends who sup-ported the
formation of a Congress-led government during the recent crisis, the
SP chief said, "Now that the Congress has been exposed in its true
colours, those parties in the Left front and elsewhere which are still
loyal to Congress will realise their mistake soon." By rejecting Jyoti
Basu's name for prime ministership, Ms Sonia Gandhi has given a clear
signal of her derision for the Third Front, including the Left, he
said. As if this were not enough, he scoffed "It looks like these
leaders of the third Front) have surrendered before Ms Sonia Gandhi as
if she were above principles and country's interests."
The Congress, he said, had chosen to adopt this strategy al though the
SP was the first and the earliest among the anti-BJP parties to urge
the main opposition to make a decisive move to overthrow the BJP-led
arrangement at the Centre. Warning the Congress not to indulge any
more in 'personal canards' and 'hate campaigns,' he cautioned that
anymore 'fresh lies' on the Congress' part would force the SP to repay
in kind.
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