Sonia sees profit in quitting office

So while it may have punctured the BJP’s anti-Sonia tirade over the “office of profit” controversy, her resignation landed the Congress and the UPA in what could develop into a cascading crisis.

With the sacrifice syndrome gripping the party in the wake of Sonia’s act—Karan Singh and Gurudas Kamat have also sent in their resignations from the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively—the Congress chief’s personal solution could end up exacerbating what was essentially an institutional problem, sections of the Congress and its allies feel.

The CPM for instance has already made it clear that it wasn’t about to follow the Congress example and none of its MPs, accused of holding offices of profit, would resign. But Left sources admitted that Mamata Banerjee could make a big issue of it in the coming Assembly elections, particularly targeting Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee because he is more than just an MP.

It was just 20 minutes before Sonia’s statement that the Congress announced an “urgent press statement at 10 Janpath at 2.25 pm.” Few minutes past 3 pm, she read out the announcement, Rahul Gandhi watching.

“For the last two days some people in the country have been trying to create an atmosphere as if government and parliament are being used only to favour me. It has immensely hurt me,” she said. “I have said earlier too that I have not joined politics and public life for any personal gains. I have resolved to protect the secular values of the country and the society.

“That is why, upholding the ideals of public life and politics and personal belief, I resign from Lok Sabha membership. I have full confidence that my brothers and sisters in Rae Bareli (her Lok Sabha constituency) as well as the entire country will understand my feelings.”

Asked if she would contest elections, she said: “Certainly, most certainly, and only from Rae Bareli.”

Within minutes of Sonia’s announcement, party workers gathered outside her residence while AICC functionaries at 24, Akbar Road exulted over her ‘‘masterstroke’’ that they claimed would silence the BJP.

Sonia loyalists said the BJP’s central plank—that the government had flouted parliamentary norms through an ordinance solely to ‘‘save Sonia Gandhi’’—had taken a beating.

‘‘Now the BJP will come running to us to bring in a legislation to define the office of profit,’’ was the repeated refrain, as Congress leaders underlined that legislators cutting across party lines were keen on changing the existing law.

Congressmen concede, in private, that their leaders made a mess of the whole thing by not reacting to the Jaya Bachchan case with political acuity and alacrity, and then overreacting once Sonia Gandhi’s name came into the picture.

A CPM leader asked why Sonia had to react so dramatically to the BJP’s accusations. In other words, having come into politics, she should fight the adversary head on instead of falling into their trap and seeing grave issues pertaining to Parliament and the government only through a personal prism, he said.

Comrades are not in a hurry

• Somnath Chatterjee, Speaker, Chairman of Shriniketan-Santiniketan Development Authority and President of Asiatic Society, Kolkata: As far as I understand the legal provisions, (my office) cannot be termed as office of profit.

• Mohammed Salim, CPM MP, Lok Sabha, chairman West Bengal Minority Finance and Development Corporation: Not office of profit.

• Hannan Mollah, CPM MP, Lok Sabha, chairman Wakf Board, West Bengal: I was elected by Muslim MPs. Let the EC decide, we’ll see.

• Sujan Chakraborty, CPM MP, Lok Sabha, chairman, West Bengal State Pharmaceutical Corporation: No reason to quit because I did not hold the post when I was elected. This is social service.

• Lakshman Seth CPM MP, chairman, Haldia Development Authority: Not office of profit, no question of
stepping down.

• Amitava Nandi, CPM MP, Vice-chairman, West Bengal State Fisheries Development Corporation: Honorary post, no plans to step down.

• Sudhansu Sil, CPM MP, chairman of Mallik Ghat Flower-merchants committee: It’s a body of private flower-growers, no relation with the government.

Congress
• Karan Singh: Cong MP, chairman, ICCR: Not office of profit but to quote Soniaji, this is the right thing to do. I am sending my resignation.

• T Subbarami Reddy, Cong MP, Chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Board: Sonia Gandhi is a great leader in Indian history and sacrificed herself for the second time. We can’t compare. I will be deciding shortly

Sacrifice quote unquote

When Jaya Bachchan was disqualified last week:
• Comparisons between the NAC and other posts are intended to mislead and beguile. Bachchan’s case is unique since there was a finding on her case by the EC…The NAC chairperson neither holds an office nor receives any profit, nor is it under the government.’’
Abhishek Singhvi, AICC spokesman
• The NAC is of advisory nature, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is an NGO…No doubts that either of the two offices is not an office of profit.’’
Ambika Soni, Cong

When Sonia Gandhi resigned, yesterday
• She is the country’s tallest leader and has a rare commitment to moral values: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
• She is the greatest politician of the country…all Congressmen are proud: AICC gen secy Digvijay Singh
• Sonia has opened new chapters of moral and honest politics in India: J-K Cong MLA G A Mir

When she said she won’t be PM, on
May 18, 2004
• The rare example of sacrifice is in keeping with the highest standards of idealism of the freedom struggle: PM
• To be told she can’t become PM is something we cannot accept. We cannot imagine a government without Sonia Gandhi.’’
Salman Khursheed
• Congress members trust you, and no one else, to lead them: MP Kapil Sibal