The Hindu : Sunil Dutt to head Cong. anti-communal brigade

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 25, 2002

National

National

Sunil Dutt to head Cong. anti-communal brigade

Javed M. Ansari

NEW DELHI MAY 24. The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, today followed up her decision of setting up an anti-communal brigade, "sadhbhavana ke sipahi'' by appointing Sunil Dutt as its chief. She made the announcement in her concluding speech at the end of the AICC session.

Described as the infantry of the party in its war against communalism, the new force is expected to spread the message of secularism.

It will be active in preventing communal clashes and mobilise relief, especially for women and children.

Ms. Gandhi's concluding speech was more in the nature of announcements. She indicated that the next brainstorming session like the one in Pachmarhi would be held soon, most likely in Rajasthan.

Responding to pointed requests from the U.P. delegates, she promised to devote more time to that State.

Ms. Gandhi had earlier in the day spoken of the need to evolve a code of ethics and the need to practise austerity. She would be distributing a code shortly.

She responded positively to a suggestion made by Dhullon of Punjab, who had urged her to give more weightage to the poor. "This is something close to my heart and I will follow it up,'' she said.

Ms. Gandhi had the crowd on its feet by the time she finished her speech, especially when she referred to the party as a team in which every member had a role to play.

"I don't have a magic wand and I cannot do it alone, we must all function as a team, set aside our likes and dislikes and our self-importance,'' she said.

Earlier, while piloting the resolution on foreign affairs, Natwar Singh combined humour with substance and was an instant hit with the members, especially when he called for "old people like myself'' to make way for youngsters.

He enunciated the foreign policy issues in a simple language which was understood by most of the delegates.

He drew links between events on the domestic front and their impact on relations with foreign countries, and put up a credible defence of the Nehruvian foreign policy, even as he tore the Bharaitya Janata Party's foreign policy to shreds.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

Stories in this Section

CPI(M) demands President's rule in Gujarat

Sonia unmoved by hosannas?

Here, most women are insured

Sunil Dutt to head Cong. anti-communal brigade

Complaints against mills for not filing packing returns

AIDWA seeks Modi's dismissal

Govt.'s economic policy draws flak

`ISRO keen on harnessing technology'

Pakistani held for espionage

SLPA to unveil concessional package for Indian exporters

Rhetoric holds sway