Cong. to take protests to the streets

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 24. With Parliament in recess, the Congress would continue to protest against the Vajpayee Government on the Tehelka tapes expose through public rallies.

One such rally is being organised by the party's State unit in the capital tomorrow, coinciding with a public meeting and solidarity show by the ruling National Democratic Alliance.

Having stalled Parliament for nine days demanding the resignation of the NDA Government, the Congress has decided to shift the site of protest - from Parliament to the streets.

The party which announced nationwide rallies to keep the issue alive during the recess period was already off the block with a meeting at Hyderabad on Saturday.

Yet, unlike the NDA's counter-offensive rally here tomorrow, to be addressed by the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee and others alliance leaders, the Congress show would be limited to speeches by senior party leaders such as Mr. Kamal Nath, Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Mr. Moti Lal Vora, Mr. Ahmed Patel and Mr. R.K. Dhawan.

The Congress has decided on a protracted multi-pronged action programme right from the block level to State capitals involving workers from the grassroots to national-level leaders.

While the Opposition joined hands against the Government inside the House, it has charted independent programmes outside Parliament on the issue. The newly-formed People's Front too has initiated a limited campaign against the Government with a couple of rallies in the capital last week.

The Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) has urged the People's Front convener and Samajwadi Party president, Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav, to call a meeting where a joint strategy for mass agitation on the issue could be drawn. He said the Front leaders could meet in the first week of April.

The RSP leader, Mr. Abani Roy, told The Hindu that since the Congress and the ruling NDA have already finalised their programmes, the Front too should come up with its programme.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : 11 more held for sacrilege
Next     : Name-dropping no evidence: Sorabjee