DATE=5/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249506
TITLE=INDIA / CONGRESS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA'S OPPOSITION CONGRESS PARTY IS INTENSIFYING PRESSURE
ON SONIA GANDHI TO WITHDRAW HER RESIGNATION AS LEADER OF THE
PARTY. ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, THE CONGRESS
PARTY IS IN CRISIS FOLLOWING MRS. GANDHI'S DECISION TO STEP DOWN.
SHE RESIGNED AFTER THREE SENIOR CONGRESS LEADERS QUESTIONED HER
CREDENTIALS TO BE THE PARTY'S CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER IN THE
SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF HER FOREIGN BIRTH.
TEXT: DOZENS OF CONGRESS PARTY LEADERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
TUESDAY SUBMITTED THEIR RESIGNATIONS TO MRS. GANDHI -- AND SAID
THEY WILL STEP DOWN FROM THEIR POSTS IF MRS. GANDHI DOES NOT
RESUME LEADERSHIP OF THE PARTY. CHIEF MINISTERS OF FOUR STATES
(DELHI, RAJASTHAN, MADHYA PRADESH, ORISSA) RULED BY THE CONGRESS
PARTY ARE AMONG THOSE WHO SAY THEY WILL QUIT UNLESS MRS. GANDHI
AGREES TO CONTINUE AS PARTY CHIEF.
DELHI CHIEF MINISTER, SHIELA DIKSHIT, SAYS THERE IS NO DOUBT IN
THE PARTY RANKS THAT ITALIAN-BORN MRS. GANDHI MUST BE ITS
CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER IN THE COMING GENERAL ELECTIONS.
/// INSERT DIKSHIT ACT ///
MRS. GANDHI IS THE NATURAL LEADER. CONGRESSMEN ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY ARE PLEADING WITH HER, REQUESTING THAT SHE
MUST WITHDRAW HER RESIGNATION BECAUSE THE VERY SURVIVAL
OF THE CONGRESS, IN THEIR MINDS, DEPENDS ON HER.
/// END DIKSHIT ACT ///
CONGRESS SPOKESMAN AJIT JOGI SAYS THE PARTY IS "STUNNED" AND
CANNOT CONTEMPLATE A FUTURE WITHOUT MRS. GANDHI. BUT HE SAYS SO
FAR MRS. GANDHI IS FIRM IN HER RESOLVE NOT TO RECONSIDER HER
RESIGNATION.
EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH MRS. GANDHI, HUNDREDS OF CONGRESS
PARTY MEMBERS ARE DEMANDING THE EXPULSION OF THE THREE LEADERS
WHO RAISED OBJECTIONS TO HER LEADERSHIP.
BUT THE DISSENTING LEADERS HAVE GIVEN NO INDICATION THEY WILL
BACK DOWN FROM THEIR DEMAND THAT ONLY NATIVE-BORN INDIANS SHOULD
HOLD THE COUNTRY'S TOP POSTS. AMONG THEM IS SHARAD PAWAR -- AN
INFLUENTIAL LEADER FROM THE WESTERN STATE OF MAHARASHTRA. HE SAYS
THE ISSUE INVOLVES THE NATION'S SELF-RESPECT.
/// INSERT PAWAR ACT ///
IT'S A QUESTION OF PRINCIPLE, IT'S A QUESTION OF
NATIONAL INTEREST AND IT'S A QUESTION OF PRESTIGE IN
RESPECT OF THE NATION AND EVERY INDIAN.
/// END PAWAR ACT ///
POLITICAL ANALYSTS ARE VIEWING THE REBELLION BY THE CONGRESS
LEADERS -- AND MRS. GANDHI'S DECISION TO STEP DOWN -- AS A POWER
STRUGGLE WITHIN THE PARTY. MR. PAWAR IS AN AMBITIOUS, POWERFUL,
REGIONAL LEADER WHO HAS ASPIRED TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S POST IN
THE PAST.
ANALYSTS SAY MRS. GANDHI MAY USE THE REBELLION AGAINST HER
LEADERSHIP AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE HER SUPPORT WITHIN THE
PARTY, WHICH HAS TRADITIONALLY RELIED HEAVILY ON THE GANDHI
FAMILY TO BRING IN VOTES. BUT THEY SAY THE LEADERSHIP CRISIS WILL
HURT THE PARTY AS IT PREPARES FOR ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER.
MRS. GANDHI WAS BORN IN ITALY. SHE HAS LIVED IN INDIA SINCE
MARRYING FORMER PRIME MINISTER RAJIV GANDHI. THE CONTROVERSY
ABOUT HER FOREIGN BIRTH BEGAN IN RECENT WEEKS, AFTER CONGRESS
LEADERS BEGAN PROJECTING HER AS THEIR CHOICE FOR PRIME MINISTER.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AP/KL
18-May-99 8:19 AM EDT (1219 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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