M A I N   N E W S

Cong to extend outside support to Mulayam govt
Tribune News Service and UNI

New Delhi, September 6
The Congress tonight decided to extend outside support to the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh.

A Congress spokesman, Mr Anand Sharma, told UNI here that the final decision on the matter would be taken after discussions between Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

The decision not to join the UP government for the moment was taken after Mrs Gandhi held consultations with senior party leaders here tonight.

Earlier in Damdama (Gurgaon), Congress President Sonia Gandhi did not rule out the possibility of her party joining the Mulayam Singh government in Uttar Pradesh. Responding to queries from reporters, she described the present political scenario in the state as “fluid”, but remained non-committal on whether her party would join the government. The Congress was following the developments and would take a decision soon. She gave broad indications that the party would take a final decision only after Monday. “Wait till September 8”, she said, adding that for the present the Congress was supporting the government. Mrs Gandhi was here to inaugurate Indira Gandhi Holiday Home for children set up by the Indian Council for Child Welfare Trust, an NGO of which she is the Chairperson.

To a query whether the Uttar Pradesh developments will have a bearing on the coming Assembly elections in Rajasthan, she answered in the affirmative.

On her party’s prospects at the hustings in Rajasthan, she said it would do well as it would find favour with the people of the state due to the sincerity with which the Congress government tried to bring relief to the masses.

The Congress government has managed well the crisis in Rajasthan in the face of severe drought. She reiterated the charge of the Congress and that of her party’s government in Rajasthan that the NDA government at the Centre was reluctant to provide help to the state to tide over the crisis.

Also, she catalogued the concern and positive efforts put in by the Rajasthan Government to eradicate illiteracy. The government scored well on this front and a testimony to this was that the state had left behind some other states which were ahead of it in terms of the literacy rate.

With regard to UP, the tone of Mrs Gandhi suggested that the party was not in a hurry to lay open its cards.

Later, addressing a gathering at the inauguration of Indira Gandhi Holiday Home, she tried to revive the memories of two former premiers, late Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi saying that they had a great concern for the rounded development of children.

Indira Gandhi Holiday Home has been set up in an area of about 15 acres in this village flanked by the Aravali hills.