What does your takeover as Congress president indicate?
That a worker belonging to the Gandhi era is still remembered by ordinary Congress workers and leaders as well.
But the transition wasn’t pleasant.
That’s correct. Sometimes, unpleasant conditions create and generate a new situation, paving the way for rebuilding the party.
The Congress has suffered a lot electorally in recent years. Will your unity and reconciliation bid help rebuild it?
I am aware of the Congress’ debacle in many states and the recent Lok Sabha elections. But I am hopeful that the people in general and Congress workers in particular have realised that the disintegration of a nationalist party like the Congress, with its history of freedom struggle and experience of administering the country for years, will leave a void impossible to fill up in the nation’s life. And we want to take up unity and reconciliation as a step forward.
Are you going to take back those who have left the party in the recent past?
Yes, we want back all those who can give some strength to the party, its ideology and increase its mass base. But again, it is a policy matter and the party will decide on the modalities.
The period of Congress decline has also seen a parallel phenomenon—the growth of the BJP. What is your opinion about that party’s role in Indian politics?
The BJP has done well in the past few elections. But a party which wants to come to power through religion as the main agenda, forgetting our composite culture, is doing a great disservice to the nation. Various religious, linguistic and ethnic groups and communities are part of this country’s composite culture. This true picture of the country was put before the common man by Gandhiji. And by pursuing a divisive policy, the BJP is trying to undo Gandhiji’s work. That is why I feel the Congress is more relevant today than ever before. After all, the Congress not only represents secular values, but also this country’s composite culture.
But the BJP accuses your party of pursuing a policy of minority appeasement to get votes?
The question of the various aberrations that have crept into the electoral approach is something we all should sit down and discuss. But I deny that the Congress is only interested in treating Muslims as a "votebank". By saying this, the BJP is only trying to divide the composite culture into majority authority and minority communalism. Such interpretation based on religion is a danger to the nation’s unity.
Can you counter the BJP’s growth politically?
Of course. Its growth is also an aberration. It has grown mainly because it has misled the masses by using a particular religion and the Hindutva slogan. I am happy that when we are going to apply all our might to fight them, some important BJP leaders like Atal Behari Vajpayee are trying to create confidence among the Muslim minorities. This indicates a belated realisation that politics thriving on hatred towards a particular community or religion does not last.
Despite the BJP’s "hatred" for Muslims, the minorities, including Dalits and OBCs, have also got alienated from the Congress, a party they supported all along?
Yes, we will tell them and convince them that their interest is not safe if they don’t support the Congress. I realise SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities have been exploited by all sections of society all these years. Maybe we are also to blame.
Will the Congress accept the growing assertiveness among OBCs, SCs and STs?
Yes, this is something visible all around, and we have to acknowledge it. This realisation on their part will ultimately bring about equality and social justice as well as communal harmony.
But whatever support you expect from the Dalits in Uttar Pradesh is because of the tie-up with the BSP.
So what of that? I welcome them—whatever route they take. We have to identify ourselves with a cause.
Many Congressmen want an AICC session in October. What’s your plan?
If they want, it will be held. But I’m yet to discuss it in the party.
