For Cong, Sethu’s a bridge away from electorate
Cold political calculations will overshadow the Congress’ response to the Sethusamudram issue. Sonia Gandhi, wary of the party being branded anti-Hindu by the BJP, has indicated a waning of interest in the the project.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Cold political calculations will overshadow the Congress��� response to the Sethusamudram issue. Sonia Gandhi, wary of the party being branded anti-Hindu by the BJP, has indicated a waning of interest in the the project.
The move to destroy the Ram Setu will be anti-Hindu and the party is afraid that a Hindu backlash would cost it millions of votes. With elections scheduled to be held in ten states this year and the general elections due in 2009, the Congress would rather turn a blind eye to the funds pumped into the project than risk giving a platform to the BJP to capitalise on the issue.
According to sources, Ms Gandhi and Ahmed Patel conveyed their apprehensions to CPI leaders ��� AB Bardhan and D Raja ��� when they met on Monday. The CPI leaders were of the view that since the UPA government had already put in large funds for the Sethusamudram project, it should take it up or else it would mean a waste of money. The Congress, which has already got a taste of the possible backlash, there is more to lose than money.
It was Ms Gandhi���s damage control intervention in the Sethusamudram affidavit case that finally put an end to the issue from snowballing into a major crisis for the party. The affidavit prepared by the Archaeological Society of India (ASI) presented before the Supreme Court by the central government was seen as an outright violation of the sentiments of the majority community. The Communists, however, backed the DMK.
The affidavit was withdrawn by the government on Ms Gandhi���s direction and Congress leaders said the existence of Ram was not being doubted. This was not approved by the CPM and CPI, which asked the Centre to remain firm in implementing the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project, a 150-year-old ���dream��� of the people of Tamil Nadu.
They said the previous BJP-led NDA Government, which had given its nod for implementation of the project, was now opposing the project for political gains and the AIADMK had also joined the ���communal forces��� in stalling the project.
The move to destroy the Ram Setu will be anti-Hindu and the party is afraid that a Hindu backlash would cost it millions of votes. With elections scheduled to be held in ten states this year and the general elections due in 2009, the Congress would rather turn a blind eye to the funds pumped into the project than risk giving a platform to the BJP to capitalise on the issue.
According to sources, Ms Gandhi and Ahmed Patel conveyed their apprehensions to CPI leaders ��� AB Bardhan and D Raja ��� when they met on Monday. The CPI leaders were of the view that since the UPA government had already put in large funds for the Sethusamudram project, it should take it up or else it would mean a waste of money. The Congress, which has already got a taste of the possible backlash, there is more to lose than money.
It was Ms Gandhi���s damage control intervention in the Sethusamudram affidavit case that finally put an end to the issue from snowballing into a major crisis for the party. The affidavit prepared by the Archaeological Society of India (ASI) presented before the Supreme Court by the central government was seen as an outright violation of the sentiments of the majority community. The Communists, however, backed the DMK.
The affidavit was withdrawn by the government on Ms Gandhi���s direction and Congress leaders said the existence of Ram was not being doubted. This was not approved by the CPM and CPI, which asked the Centre to remain firm in implementing the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project, a 150-year-old ���dream��� of the people of Tamil Nadu.
They said the previous BJP-led NDA Government, which had given its nod for implementation of the project, was now opposing the project for political gains and the AIADMK had also joined the ���communal forces��� in stalling the project.
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