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'Polls won't be referendum on personalities': Sonia

Brushing aside criticism from Congress rebels that Sonia Gandhi cannot lead the country owing to her foreign origins, the All India Congress Committee today decided to project her as the party's prime ministerial candidate for the coming general elections on a poll plank of stability and secularism.

A resolution moved by Nagaland Chief Minister S C Jamir said, ''The AICC has decided to fight the elections under her leadership.''

The session finally ends the ten day-long controversy which saw the rebels led by Sharad Pawar raising the banner of revolt and Sonia tendering her resignation from the post of Congress president.

Dismissing the rebel campaign, that Sonia being of foreign origin should be disqualified from leading the country, as a ''non-issue'' with the people, the resolution said such a stance negated the country's constitution and its tolerant culture.

The emergency session of the AICC began in New Delhi with the hoisting of the Congress flag by party president Sonia Gandhi.

The session was delayed for about 80 minutes as Sonia was unable to reach the venue, Talkatora Stadium, because of traffic snarls in the area. The session was scheduled to commence at 11 am.

The Congress president also inspected a guard of honour by Seva Dal workers in the presence of a large number of leaders including former Congress president Sitaram Kesri.

Earlier, the police caned Congress workers who tried to storm the venue without proper passes.

The session is being attended by more than 1,200 delegates, state unit presidents, Congress Working Committee members and former members of Parliament.

Amid the bustle inside the venue, several top leaders including Narayan Dutt Tiwari found it difficult to find a seat. AICC members from Uttar Pradesh finally offered Tiwari a seat in the back benches.

In an emotional speech in Hindi and English, Sonia said India adopted her 31 years ago as the daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi and this nation has been part of every moment of her life since then.

''I came here as a bride, I became a mother here and also became a widow in front of your eyes and Indiraji died in my arms. Each drop of my blood says that this is my country,'' ('' mere khoon ki ek ek boond kahti hain ke main yahi ki hoon ''), she said in a voice choked with emotion as the stadium repeatedly broke out in applause.

The Congress president said that ''the people doubting my credentials as an Indian would get a befitting reply in the coming election. All these non issues are being raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party to divert the people's attention from their 13-month misrule,'' she said.

''The very people who targeted the minorities, made them suspects in the country are asking proof of my nationality,'' she said in a direct attack on the BJP-orchestrated criticism.

In the nine days of trauma she underwent when the rebels raised the banner of revolt she had realised who her genuine associates were, she exclaimed.

''The spontaneous gesture of the Congress workers has moved me and I will not disappoint you hereafter,'' she said, adding, ''You rekindled hope in my heart and gave me assurance, love and affection without which the post I held had no meaning.''

The Congress, she said, would seek the mandate of the people on the slogan that it alone can provide a stable government and a responsive and responsible administration.

She made it clear that the coming elections would not be a referendum on personalities as some people are trying to make it out. ''It will be a battle for India's dreams and the future of our children and their children,'' she said.

UNI

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