'The CWC is confident that when the dust of false propaganda and disinformation has settled down, the people will appreciate the Congress position'

The text of the resolution adopted by the Congress Working Committee:

The Congress Working Committee reviewed the political developments since its last meeting. It took note of the events since the Congress president, authorised by the Congress Working Committee to take appropriate steps in terms of the resolution adopted at its meeting on February 16,1997, wrote to Rashtrapatiji about decision of the Congress party to withdraw support to the government led by Mr H D Deve Gowda.

The working committee was briefed by the members of the negotiating team appointed by the Congress president about the course of negotiations with the United Front negotiating team. During the course of these negotiations, the Congress negotiating team had made it clear that our party's decision to withdraw the support followed the well-considered assessment that the objective of stemming the growing influence of communal forces and consolidation of secular forces had not been served during the last ten months.

The Congress team made it clear to the UF counterparts that the crisis could be easily resolved if the United Front changed its leader. Unfortunately, this suggestion was summarily rejected at that time, and as a consequence, the confidence motion had to be debated and voted out in the Lok Sabha on 11th April, 1997.

The Congress Working Committee congratulates the Congress members of Parliament for standing united and for defeating the confidence motion moved by Shri H D Deve Gowda in the Lok Sabha. This magnificent demonstration of solidarity has disproved the claims made in some quarters that the Congress would be divided on this issue.

This meeting of the CWC appreciates the steps taken by the Congress president and reiterates its absolute faith and confidence in him.

The Congress Working Committee deeply regrets persistent attempts to distort the Congress position regarding withdrawal of support, a step that was taken after repeated warnings. The CWC also deplores slanderous attacks on the Congress president. However, it does not wish to enter into a battle of words at this critical stage of our country's political history.

The Congress Working Committee is confident that when the dust of false propaganda and disinformation has settled down, the people will appreciate the Congress position and see the reality behind the motivated campaign on anti-Congress disinformation. Incidentally, the resolution of the CWC containing the concerns of the Congress about the functioning of the UF government was communicated to all the constituent parties of the UF on the 17th February, 1997.

In the context of the challenges facing the country today, the primary concern of the Congress is consolidation of secular forces in an effective manner and to ensure that the country has a stable government which will follow the goals of economic development, improvement of the standard and quality of life of the poor, consolidate, and strengthen nation unity, uphold national security rekindle hope and confidence amongst the minorities and weaker sections and rise the esteem in which India is held in the international community.

For the Congress, political power has always been a means of serving the people and it continues to be so. In the past, on several occasions, the Congress has made sacrifices to uphold the objectives which it has cherished for over a century. The CWC wishes to reiterate that the Indian National Congress would never waver in its commitment to those ideals.