P.A. Chidambaram urges anti-BJP parties in the Northeast to join hands

GUWAHATI: Veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, P.A. Chidambaram has appealed to the party workers and leaders to put before the masses "the failures of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led government with logic".

Attending the second day of the three-day state-level training camp — Akaou Natun Prabhat Haba — for party members organised by the APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra here on Thursday, Chidambaram said, "Poverty has increased across the country during the seven-and-half tenure of the BJP-led Central government.

"However 27 crore people were lifted up from the poverty line during the decade-long tenure of the Congress-led UPA (United People's Alliance). This data is according to the World Bank." He added, "After the demonetisation process and Corona, crores of people who were above the poverty line have been pushed below the poverty line."

Referring to the resurgence of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after the massive electoral defeat in 1977, the former Union Home Minister asked the Congress workers to be confident about winning once again. "We also lost in 1996, 1998, 1999. In 1999, we lost to a charismatic leader, good orator and a lifelong Swayamsevak Atal Behari Vajpayee. But, we again won back from him in 2004 due to the hard work of Sonia Gandhi and state Congress units.

"So, I want to tell you that during the last seven-and-half year should not lead to a conclusion that Modiji is invincible or unbeatable. We must believe that our idea (of politics) is right, and he is wrong. If you can convince yourself, only then you will be able to convince others."

Responding to queries from media persons, Chidambaram also appealed to the anti-BJP parties in the Northeast to come under one umbrella and remain steadfast to their political ideologies.

He pointed out, "All I can reiterate and emphasise is that if you wish to defeat the BJP in an election, either in a state election or national election, all anti-BJP parties in the Northeast must come together."

He, however, pointed out that if the Opposition parties are not willing to join the non-BJP front, then the people will question the seriousness of the parties that are opposing the BJP in NE.

"So if the Northeast has to progress faster, their political parties must hold steadfast to certain ideologies …whether you win or lose elections, you must remain with your political ideologies," said the former four-time Union Finance Minister. To a query on why none of the states in the Northeast is currently under Congress rule, Chidambaram said, "There was a time when none of the states was under any other party except the Congress. The problem in the Northeast is that there are no lasting ideological commitments…. The regional parties tend to change their positions very frequently, which is unfortunate." "Today look at the number of ministers in the Northeast who were Congressmen…I wouldn't be surprised if the Congress comes back to power in Delhi, they might again switch to the Congress," he quipped.

"The failure of the party in the Northeast is because there have been leaders who were not willing to stay on the path of ideological commitments. I can name a number of people who have been Congressmen for a number of years but have switched their ideologies," Chidambaram said.

Among the dignitaries present in the training programme were APCC president Bhupen Borah, AICC general secretary and Assam in-charge Jitendra Singh, leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, AICC secretaries Prithiraj Prabhakar Sathe, Bikash Upadhyay, AICC training department in-charge Sachin Rawe and other senior leaders.

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