Tags:
Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, Jan 14: Samajwadi Party SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav today launched a frontal attack on the Congress, saying it had helped spread communalism in the country and that an SP-Congress alliance for the elections was not possible, at any cost.
Yadav was in Mumbai to attend an Iftar party organised by the SP8217;s Mumbai unit this evening. Addressing a press conference at Islam Gymkhana at Marine Drive this evening, Yadav said, 8220;The Congress has an extremely low character, which has come to fore in the last 45 years. The Congress never fought against communalism and there is no possibility of the party taking steps against growing communalism in the country in future.8221;
Commenting on the increasing attacks on Christians in tribal areas of the country, Yadav said it was yet another trick by Hindu organisations to consolidate a vote bank. He said the attacks were not against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and there were no forced conversions, as was being portrayed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the BJP. 8220;The SP will launch a nationwide agitation against attacks on minorities by the majority community, from February 5, 1999. A team of SP activists is on a visit of the troubled areas and will soon come up with a report and plan for the next action,8221; Yadav said.
Yadav reiterated his demand of providing Rs 2,000 crore to Pakistan and said that a federation of countries in the Indian sub-continent should be formed to accelerate development. 8220;The SP has been following an ideology similar to the thoughts of Amartya Sen, for which he won the Nobel prize. The stronger economy must always act in favour of the poor. Pakistan is poorer to India in all aspects and hence, we must help them in some way or the other. There is nothing wrong in it,8221; he added.
When asked if an Indo-Pak cricket match should take place in India and whether it would help improve relations between the two countries, Yadav replied in affirmative. 8220;Sports, cultural programmes must take place between us, so that our relations get better. Cricket does not know any religion and those who are opposing it are betrayers of the nation. If we can buy sugar worth over 13,000 crore from Pakistan and have plans to buy power from them, all other avenues of interaction must be welcome,8221; said Yadav.
Asked to comment on the sacking of former Chief of Naval Staff Vishnu Bhagwat, Yadav said it was an act of stupidity on part of the Government. 8220;Sarkar ne samajh se kaam nahi kiya. Postings were never a problem during my tenure as the Defence minister,8221; said Yadav.
