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Journalism of Courage
VADODARA, July 8: Congress president Sonia Gandhi would launch party8217;s poll campaign in Gujarat on July 17. This was stated by State Congress chief C D Patel, who was in the city in connection with the July 17 rally, while talking to reporters on Thursday. Sonia would launch the campaign at the rally, Patel said, predicting that the Congress would win at least 14 out of the 26 Lok Sabha seats in the State.
Patel claimed that the Congress had strengthened with the merger of the Rashtriya Janata Party and that there were no differences on the merger. But if at all there were any, they would be sorted out, he added.
According to Patel, the Congress would be handing over a sum of Rs 25 lakh to the party president for the family members of those who had died while fighting in Kargil. Each district had been given a target of Rs 1 lakh but the collection might increase, he stated.
Patel also stated that the party would collect 10,000 bottles of blood for the soldiers in the days to come.
The State Congress chief alleged that the Vajpayee Government had failed to tackle Kargil issue and demanded the resignation of Defence Minister George Fernandes, besides asking for a White Paper on the failure of intelligence agencies for Kargil issue. He, nonetheless lauded efforts of the army and stated that opposition, including the Congress were all united on the issue.
He claimed that if Sonia would have been the Prime Minister, the Kargil issue could have been tackled in a better manner. He cited the example during Indira Gandhi8217;s tenure as the Prime Minister when the latter had not bothered about USA8217;s action when Bangladesh was separated from Pakistan.
Patel reiterated the demand to convene Rajya Sabha session on the Kargil issue. Even in 1965 and 1971, the sessions were convened, he said, recalling that at that time Vajpayee had brought to light certain flaws in the army.
