01-23-2008, 06:02 PM
<b>Stung on Setu, Cong to tread with caution</b>
23 Jan 2008, 0204 hrs IST,TNN
NEW DELHI: With BJP eagerly waiting to pounce on the government stand on Ram Setu, the Congress leadership has advised extreme caution on the affidavit that the Centre plans to file in the Supreme Court on the contentious issue.
The Congress core group on Tuesday felt that top party and government heads should meet once before the deadline for filing of affidavit on January 27.
The party wants to handle the sensitive issue with care, lest it is pounced upon by BJP and Sangh Parivar to paint the Congress-led government as "anti-Hindu". Having been caught off-guard in the first affidavit, where Centre had called into question the existence of Lord Ram and triggered a massive controversy, the party is keen to ensure that the gaffe is not repeated.
In view of the defeats in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and upcoming Karnataka polls, where BJP has a history of playing the Hindutva card, Congress is careful not to provide fresh fodder to the opposition party. The party has finally begun to address issues pertaining to states.
Sources said the core group discussed the issue of Telangana, which has led to a serious tug-of-war within the party and outside. The leadership, it is learnt, has formed an informal group of the chief minister, PCC president and general secretary in charge to formulate the party stand on statehood for Telangana.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/S...how/2722685.cms
23 Jan 2008, 0204 hrs IST,TNN
NEW DELHI: With BJP eagerly waiting to pounce on the government stand on Ram Setu, the Congress leadership has advised extreme caution on the affidavit that the Centre plans to file in the Supreme Court on the contentious issue.
The Congress core group on Tuesday felt that top party and government heads should meet once before the deadline for filing of affidavit on January 27.
The party wants to handle the sensitive issue with care, lest it is pounced upon by BJP and Sangh Parivar to paint the Congress-led government as "anti-Hindu". Having been caught off-guard in the first affidavit, where Centre had called into question the existence of Lord Ram and triggered a massive controversy, the party is keen to ensure that the gaffe is not repeated.
In view of the defeats in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and upcoming Karnataka polls, where BJP has a history of playing the Hindutva card, Congress is careful not to provide fresh fodder to the opposition party. The party has finally begun to address issues pertaining to states.
Sources said the core group discussed the issue of Telangana, which has led to a serious tug-of-war within the party and outside. The leadership, it is learnt, has formed an informal group of the chief minister, PCC president and general secretary in charge to formulate the party stand on statehood for Telangana.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/S...how/2722685.cms