Cong plans stir on Bofors
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct 29 — The Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, today upped the ante against the government, accusing it of "political witch-hunt" by naming Rajiv Gandhi as an accused in the Bofors charge sheet.

Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting here, she also took strong exception to the government equating Rajiv Gandhi with Beant Singh and Dhanu, assassins of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi respectively.

She also said a nationwide agitation would be launched in order to "expose the shameful game" of the BJP-led government.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi who is also the CPP Chairperson said that several PCCs had already started protesting against the naming of Rajiv Gandhi as an accused in the Bofors case by the CBI. She said all state party units had been instructed to workout a suitable agitational programme.

"In Parliament, we have articulated our arguments against this deliberate attempt to malign our beloved leader and the Congress. Please study these arguments carefully and prepare yourselves to take this issue to the people,’’ she said, adding that the members should be able to put the issue in a proper perspective and create public opinion against the political vendetta being indulged in by the BJP government’’.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi said a special group would be set up to study various Bills being presented in the Lok Sabha.

Giving details of her speech, the Chief Whip of the party, Mr Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, said the Congress chief had asked the MPs to keep a vigil on activities of communal forces and play more effective role in defending secularism and implementing policies of the Congress.

She also said that several MPs had expressed the view that the party should be more aggressive. The Congress President said since the current session was a short one, the members should study in detail issues of public interest and take these up.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi also mentioned that several MPs had expressed apprehension about the outcome of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha.

She said the members should interact among themselves in line with the party’s declared policies before the next session.

For the first time, the All-India Congress Committee shall conduct a special training for the first-time MPs.

Advani hints at second look

NEW DELHI, Oct 29 (PTI) — Home Minister L.K. Advani tonight hinted in the Lok Sabha at the government taking a second look on the inclusion of Rajiv Gandhi’s name in the Bofors payoffs case charge sheet in the wake of a strong demand by the Congress that his name be deleted.

"The government will take into account what leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi and Congress member Mani Shankar Aiyar said on this issue and do what is appropriate; he said, a reply to the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address.