They are bright. In the past five years, we have done our best on economic and law and order fronts. We were also able to sort out some outstanding problems like Jharkhand and Bodoland. But, yes, there was a flip side as well...like the unfortunate demolition of the Masjid.
The Muslims have still not forgiven the Congress...
Yes, but more than that it has damaged our party's secular image. We, of course, have blamed the RSS-VHP-BJP combine for it. But we, being in the Government at the Centre, cannot escape sharing the blame. After all, in a federal system, accountability—more than a mere legal term—is both moral and subject to public perception. If people, especially the minorities, felt let down, it was because they rightly believed our party was founded on secularism. It's for us to get that image back.
Hasn't the exit of N.D. Tiwari and Arjun Singh last year further distanced the Congress from the minorities?
The split was very unfortunate. We must unite to defeat the forces of communalism. I hope better sense will prevail on both sides and we will together be able to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi's dream of "eliminating communalism".
But they have maintained that their departure was on specific issues.
I am with them on issues. There was no need for them to leave the party. They should sit with Rao and thrash out their differences. If we don't unite, we'll fall into the BJP trap. And secularism will be the biggest casualty.
Of late, K. Karunakaran seems to be busy attempting to bring about a patch-up. Are you involved in the efforts?
I tried it for nine months. I haven't given up. I'm fully with him. It is painful to have people like Tiwari and Singh out of the party.
They have charged that the Rao Government is not interested in pursuing investigations into the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. Subsequently, Sonia expressed her dissatisfaction with the pace of the probe.
Rajiv's assassination is something that still hurts Congressmen. I do understand her agony and concern.
A move is on to curtail the Jain panel's scope?
I had opposed such a move earlier. The Jain Commission is doing a good job and should continue till it finis-hes the assignment.
There is another Jain—Nemichand Jain alias Chandraswami...
That he be taken into custody was my last written note as the internal security minister. I hope my Government will implement it. The confessions of a hardened criminal like Babloo Srivastava about his association with Swami was enough for the Government to arrest him. The law should not be different for the common man and those with high connections.
Sharad Pawar has demanded that senior ministers who are members of the Rajya Sabha, should contest the coming Lok Sabha elections. Do you support the move?
One hundred per cent. After all, in a democracy what counts is how much support you command among masses rather than your proximity to higher-ups.
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