WikiLeaks on Rahul, Sonia and Karat

WikiLeaks on Rahul, Sonia and Karat

Rahul feels Hindu radicals bigger threat than Lashkar; Sonia Gandhi is Ms Opportunist, while Prakash Karat is an extortionist, according to the latest reports from the WikiLeaks cables.

Kicking up a political storm in the country, a leaked US diplomatic cable quotes Rahul Gandhi as saying that Hindu radical groups pose a bigger threat to India than the Lashkar-e-Toiba as they create "religious tensions" with the Muslim community.

Another US cable, put out by WikiLeaks, criticises Sonia Gandhi's leadership in the run-up to the civil nuclear Bill in Parliament in 2007 and describes CPM leader Prakash Karat as an "extortionist".

In a conversation with US Ambassador Timothy Roemer in July last year, Rahul Gandhi is quoted as saying that while there is evidence of local support for the LeT in India, the greater threat for the country is the growth of radicalism within the Hindu community.

"Responding to the Ambassador's query about Lashkar-e-Toiba's activities in the region and immediate threat to India, Gandhi said there was evidence of some support for the group among certain elements in India's indigenous Muslim community.

However, Gandhi warned, the bigger threat may be the growth of radicalized Hindu groups, which create religious tensions and political confrontations with the Muslim community," stated the leaked cable. The cable is based on a conversation between Roemer and Rahul on July 20 last year during a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for visiting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Roemer has commented that the Congress leader was referring to the "tensions created by some of the more polarizing figures in the BJP" like Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"The risk of a "home-grown" extremist front, reacting to terror attacks coming from Pakistan or from Islamist groups in India, was a growing concern and one that demanded constant attention," the cable quoted Rahul as saying.

In another cable on the political situation in the country in the run-up to the civil nuclear Bill in Parliament, Sonia Gandhi is described as someone who "never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity to show real leadership". The critical analysis comments on Sonia's failure to show "principled leadership".

"With the future of Indian foreign credibility hanging in balance, Sonia Gandhi has been unable to show principled leadership even when it might benefit her party at the polls and reveal Prakash Karat to be the extortionist he is. Mrs. Gandhi never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity," stated a note dated November 6, 2007.

On the other hand, the detailed account of Roemer's conversation with the young Congress leader goes on to reveal that Rahul thought the "honeymoon period" of the UPA was over.

"Gandhi expressed concerns about the numerous challenges regarding the UPA's ability to implement its programs in Parliament. He said that the honeymoon period had been short and he now expected the BJP and Left Parties would be unrelenting critics of the government's program," the cable stated.

In his comments about the meeting, Roemer wrote that Gandhi was "forthright" in "describing the challenges faced by the Congress Party and the UPA government in the months ahead" and emphasised that the US Embassy would seek more opportunities to interact with him.

"Over the past four years, he was an elusive contact, but he could be interested in reaching out to the United States, given a thoughtful, politically sensitive and strategic approach on our part," the cable stated.

According to the cable, Gandhi told Roemer that his focus was on finding younger party members who "would not carry some of the baggage of older Congress candidates."

"He aimed at rebuilding party structures in small towns and rural areas to attract voters and believed the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was vulnerable there. He did not seem to be as focused on electoral efforts in bigger cities, such as Delhi and Mumbai," the cable stated.

Under fire from Parivar, Rahul says all forms of terror a threat to India

With the BJP attacking the Congress over Rahul Gandhi's remarks to US Ambassador Timothy Roemer that suggested "radicalised Hindu groups" constituted a "bigger threat" than the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the ruling party fumbled for words to explain.

While the immediate Congress reaction was to dismiss the revelations in a leaked US cable as a "conspiracy", it made a course correction later in the day, releasing a statement from Rahul.

"Rahul Gandhi's view is that terrorism and communalism of all types is a threat to India. We need to remain vigilant against acts of terrorism of all kinds, no matter who commits them," Congress media department chairman Janardan Dwivedi said.

Hours earlier, Dwivedi had said: "Let us verify the truth. May be there is some conspiracy behind the pattern with which all this is being done."

"We will respond to it after verifying the facts. There is no reason to react in an excited manner. The issue should first be looked into and verified," said party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi, adding "I am not questioning anything and I am questioning everything."

These reactions were, however, retracted later as Rahul himself attempted to clear the air. The embarrassing disclosure by the WikiLeaks is set to cast its shadow on the party's plenary session starting from Sunday.

The BJP and Sangh Parivar slammed Rahul, saying his remarks "legitimised" the anti-India propaganda of Pakistan-backed terror outfits and "weakened" New Delhi' war against terror.

The BJP said that Rahul, by identifying Hindu radical groups as bigger threats, had contradicted his own government's line as PM Manmohan Singh had often classified Maoism and terror emanating from Pakistan as the biggest internal security threats.

His "utterly irresponsible" comments underscore his "ignorance and lack of understanding" about India and its problems, the BJP said.

"It shows how little he knows about India," BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said. "In one stroke, Rahul Gandhi gave legitimacy to the propaganda of Pakistani terror groups against India. They have been talking on the same lines. He has given a big leverage to the propaganda of terror groups operating from Pakistan and certain segments of the Pakistani establishment," Prasad said. Some leaders like Vinay Katiyar even sought an apology.

The RSS, which has been under attack from the Congress for the alleged involvement of some of its functionaries in bomb blasts, and the VHP too hit out at Rahul.

RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav said a race was on among senior Congress leaders to "directly or indirectly support jehadi terror groups and to project Hindus as terrorists".

He said Rahul was making "wild charges" against Hindus. "Going to a foreign ambassador and talking with him about India's internal issues is most shocking," Madhav said.

Source: The Indian Express