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Congress backtracks, praises N-tests

In an apparent softening of stance on the nuclear issue, the Congress on Thursday refrained from questioning the timing of the tests, and said on this crucial question ''every Indian stands united''.

Apart from Congress president Sonia Gandhi making a brief reference at the working committee meeting, there was no discussion either on the blast or on sanctions imposed by the Western countries, or on the political fallout of the blasts.

Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Sharad Pawar and the party leader in the Rajya Sabha, Manmohan Singh, who had an hour-long meeting with Prime Minister A B Vajpayee last afternoon, did not brief the working committee about its outcome, senior party leader Arjun Singh told mediapersons after the day-long meeting of the CWC.

Singh also maintained that the 45-minute meeting between the prime minister and Sonia on Wednesday evening was only an informal one. She also did not report to the committee about the outcome of the meeting with the prime minister, Singh said.

In her statement at the CWC, she said, ''We feel pride in the achievement of our nuclear scientists and engineers for putting India's nuclear capability in the front rank. We recall with equal pride that successive Congress governments have ensured that India's nuclear capability remains up-to-date so that our security is not compromised. The nuclear question is a national matter, not a partisan one. On this every Indian stands united.''

She said, ''The Congress party remains committed to a nuclear weapon-free and non-violent world and that remains the sheet-anchor of our policy. The CWC reiterates India's commitment to peace in the region, so that India and her neighbours can move ahead in accelerating economic growth, eradication of poverty, illiteracy and improving the living conditions of all citizens.''

The CWC unanimously endorsed the views and sentiments expressed by the Congress president. The CWC's view is the final stand of the party, Singh said.

The Congress had earlier taken a stand that the government should inform the changes in the security environment of the region in the last two months warranting a series of nuclear tests. The government also had not made any evaluation of the security threat before going ahead with the exercise. These views were expressed by the party's foreign affairs committee chief, K Natwar Singh, at a press conference at the AICC headquarters immediately after the first blast last Monday.

Arjun Singh, however, parried questions whether the party stood by its earlier stand, saying it is a fast changing situation and the issue raised were relevant at that point of time.

Replying to questions whether the Congress would stand by its earlier commitment that the country should not sign the discriminatory Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Arjun Singh said, "Let the government come out with its stand on the issue and the party would react then."

Arjun Singh said the CWC briefly discussed the salient features of the report of the task force headed by former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A Sangma, but decided to hold an exclusive meeting of the committee to discuss the report in the near future.

The CWC set up a six-member committee headed by senior party leader K Karunakaran to review the party's constitution and suggest suitable amendments if necessary. The other members of the committee are Sushilkumar Shinde, P Shiv Shankar, K N Joshi, Ram Niwas Mirdha and Najma Heptullah.

Singh said the CWC also decided to set up a committee to scrutinise legislative proposals before Parliament. It also took the view that the party should support the 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures, Lok Pal and electoral reform bills depending on the provisions.

He said the party general secretaries briefed the committee about the strategy to be adopted in the by-elections scheduled to be held in various states next month.

The extended session of the CWC would be held today and on Saturday. All the PCC presidents, CLP leaders and several important leaders of the party will attend the two-day conclave.

UNI

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