The Hindu : Prevent war against Iraq, says Sonia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 31, 2003

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Prevent war against Iraq, says Sonia

By Our Special Correspondent

The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, at a Martyrs Day function at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday. Also seen are Subhash Chopra and Kamal Nath. — Photo: Sandeep Saxena

NEW DELHI Jan. 30. The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, called on all peace-loving nations to get together and prevent a war against Iraq. Addressing party workers at a commemorative service at the AICC headquarters today on the occasion of the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, she delivered a twin message of peace and social amity in India and abroad.

While calling for an end to "oppression, exploitation and social tensions" in the country, on Iraq she said: "We are against any unilateral action, a solution should be found through the United Nations.'' Recalling India's role in the international arena in promoting peace, Ms. Gandhi said: "We are a peace-loving nation, and have always believed in the supremacy of the United Nations." War would not remain confined to a particular area and would affect the entire world.

She lamented the fact that Gandhiji's ideals of peaceful co-existence and social amity were under severe attack. "Voices of protest against those undermining his ideal are not being raised in the manner they should be.'' She said Gandhiji wanted an India free of social inequality and intolerance, but there was a sustained attempt to weaken his ideology. There was a continuity of thought in the assassination of Gandhiji, the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 and the violence in Gujarat.

Asking the party workers to be prepared for action, Ms. Gandhi said: "Political parties are strengthened through struggle and people's movements and we must be prepared for a long struggle and also be prepared to take risks." Under the present Government, poverty, corruption, unemployment and social tensions were on the rise. "The gap between the rich and the poor has widened." Describing the Government's disinvestment and privatisation policies as "anti-people" and "anti-poor", she said profit-making PSUs were being sold off at "throwaway prices" as a result of which some people were getting richer. The poor were suffering.

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