DATE=5/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249473
TITLE=INDIA/RESIGNATION (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SONIA GANDHI, THE LEADER OF INDIA'S CONGRESS PARTY, HAS
RESIGNED HER POSITION, BUT SENIOR PARTY OFFICIALS IMMEDIATELY
REJECTED THE OFFER. MRS. GANDHI -- THE ITALIAN-BORN WIDOW OF
FORMER PRIME MINISTER RAJIV GANDHI -- ISSUED A LETTER SAYING SHE
WOULD RESIGN LATE MONDAY, AFTER A CALL BY OTHER PARTY OFFICIALS
FOR HER TO STEP DOWN. V-O-A'S JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI.
TEXT: THE DRAMATIC ANNOUNCEMENT BY MRS. GANDHI CAME AFTER THREE
SENIOR CONGRESS PARTY LEADERS QUESTIONED HER ABILITY TO LEAD THE
COUNTRY, SAYING ONLY NATURAL-BORN INDIANS SHOULD ASPIRE TO HIGH
OFFICE IN INDIA.
IN HER LETTER OF RESIGNATION, READ TO JOURNALISTS BY PRANAB
MUKHERJEE, A SENIOR CONGRESS PARTY OFFICIAL, MRS. GANDHI REJECTED
ACCUSATIONS THAT SHE IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY INDIAN ENOUGH TO
PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS OR RUN FOR HIGH OFFICE.
/// GANDHI LETTER ACT ///
THOUGH BORN IN A FOREIGN LAND, I CHOSE INDIA AS MY
COUNTRY. I AM INDIAN.
/// END ACT ///
IN HER LETTER, MRS. GANDHI SAYS SHE IS PAINED BY SOME OF HER
COLLEAGUES' LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN HER ABILITY TO ACT IN THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE CONGRESS PARTY, AND THE COUNTRY. SHE ALSO SAYS
SHE WILL CONTINUE WORKING FOR THE PARTY, SAYING SHE ONLY ASSUMED
A LEADERSHIP ROLE TO HELP THE PARTY WHEN IT APPEARED TO BE FACING
A CHALLENGE TO ITS VERY EXISTENCE.
CONGRESS PARTY LEADERS IMMEDIATELY REJECTED MRS. GANDHI'S
RESIGNATION, SAYING THEY WILL TRY AND CONVINCE HER TO RECONSIDER
HER DECISION. PRANAB MUKHERJEE SAYS THE PARTY'S SENIOR POLICY
GROUP -- KNOWN AS THE CONGRESS WORKING COMMITTEE -- ARE UNITED IN
CALLING FOR SONIA GANDHI TO WITHDRAW HER RESIGNATION.
/// MUKHERJEE ACT ///
ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE WORKING COMMITTEE ARE GOING TO
CALL ON HER WITH A REQUEST TO CONTINUE AS THE CONGRESS
PRESIDENT.
/// END ACT ///
THREE MEMBERS OF THE WORKING COMMITTEE DID NOT ATTEND MONDAY
NIGHT'S MEETING. THE THREE, ALL INFLUENTIAL AND POWERFUL
REGIONAL LEADERS, ISSUED A PUBLIC LETTER SUNDAY, SAYING INDIA
SHOULD HAVE A NATIVE-BORN LEADER AND THE CONGRESS PARTY SHOULD BE
LED BY SOMEONE WITH A TRACK RECORD IN PUBLIC LIFE.
MRS. GANDHI WAS BORN IN ITALY. SHE MARRIED RAJIV GANDHI, INDIA'S
FORMER PRIME MINISTER, WHO WAS ASSASSINATED DURING A 1991
ELECTION CAMPAIGN. SHE HAS NEVER HELD PUBLIC OFFICE, AND UNTIL
RECENTLY SHE SHUNNED POLITICS.
THE ACCUSATIONS BY THE THREE SENIOR CONGRESS LEADERS ECHO
COMMENTS MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY
AND OTHERS. THE B-J-P - LED COALITION GOVERNMENT WAS DEFEATED
LAST MONTH IN A PARLIAMENTARY VOTE OF CONFIDENCE LED BY THE
CONGRESS PARTY. HOWEVER, MRS. GANDHI WAS UNABLE TO FORM A
GOVERNMENT AND FRESH ELECTIONS HAVE NOW BEEN CALLED FOR SEPTEMBER
OF THIS YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/LTD/WTW
17-May-99 2:37 PM EDT (1837 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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