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Pawar firm on anti-Sonia demand

Dissident Congress leader Sharadchandra Pawar has stuck to his stand that Congress president Sonia Gandhi should not be projected as the party's prime ministerial candidate. He said his views in this regard should be recorded by the party's highest decision-making forum, the Congress Working Committee.

Pawar is boycotting today's CWC meeting, which is likely to begin around 1700 hours.

In a letter to party general secretary Oscar Fernandes today, Pawar said his demand -- for an amendment to the Constitution so that the prime ministerial post could be held by natural born Indian citizens -- should be recorded by the CWC in case a majority of the members chose to reject it.

Pawar said it was unfortunate that the meeting was fixed on a day when two out of the three signatories -- Pawar, Purno Agitok Sangma and Tariq Anwar -- were not in New Delhi.

While Sangma is expected from the United States of America on Wednesday, Pawar is in Bombay.

Anwar, a confidant of former Congress chief Sitaram Kesri, said he had written a letter to Fernandes, demanding that the CWC meet be postponed so that all the three dissidents could attend it.

Fernandes telephoned Pawar last night, and informed him of the emergency CWC meeting.

Pawar had told Fernandes that he could not attend the meeting 'due to prior commitments'.

He also made it clear that their demand was made in all seriousness keeping the overall interest of the party in mind.

He had also reiterated in the letter that the party manifesto should suggest an amendment to the Constitution of India, to the effect that the offices of the President, vice-president and prime minister can only be held by natural born Indian citizens.

He had also stated that the party, by fulfilling the demand, could effectively take the wind out of the Bharatiya Janata Party propaganda to diminish the stature of the Congress president.

Pawar said that his letter was not aimed at weakening the party.

Addressing the media at Yashwantrao Chavan centre in south Bombay, Pawar said that he ''saw no reason for his expulsion from the party. I have already expressed my views to the highest body of the party. I do not want to say anything more in public.''

He also said that the basic issues which could affect the party's prospects in the coming elections have to be discussed.

Asked about his future plans in case the party rejects his demand, he said, ''I will take a stand only after the party takes a decision.''

Asked whether he would form a separate political outfit, he said ''he would always remain a Congressman and his aim was to strengthen the party''.

Asked why he was not attending the crucial CWC meeting, he said the meeting was called at a very short notice.

Besides, Sangma was out of the country. ''It would have been better if the meeting was called in the presence of those who had raised the issue,'' he added.

He did not feel that the issue would weaken the party.

He said many Congressmen including CWC members were in touch with him. He said he would not discuss the issue in public.

Asked why he did not want to speak on the issue when the letter has already been made public, he said he had not leaked the letter. ''We are Congressmen and would continue to remain in the Congress. Let's see how the situation develops,'' he said.

Pawar has convened a meeting of senior party leaders from Maharashtra at the Yashwantrao Chavan centre in south Bombay today.

Asked about the Bombay meeting, he said his party colleagues wanted to meet him and 'understand each others' views'.

UNI

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