Interview
2013-08-16 / J.C.Jain

Congress is the only option for a stable and prosperous India:D.L.Kalhan

Darshan Kalhan is a much loved and respected sage of the British Indian Diaspora .He was one of the key figures in the formation of the Indian Overseas Congress ,UK (IOC).He was organisations executive secretary, general secretary, now is the president. He has given over fifty years of his politically productive life to universal human harmony. Our correspondent J.C. Jain talks to him



Q. Now the election is approaching and Who is your Prime Ministerial candidate?


In India our system is to wait till the elections are finished. It is the newly elected MPs who decide on their leader and if the party gets the majority the leader becomes the Prime Minister, just like in Britain. Other political parties may have a different approach. In any case there is no reason to think that the present Prime Minister will not continue after the elections if that is what the elected MPs want


Q. In view of the on going media publicity of many cases of corruption do you think the congress stands much of a chance at the next elections.


India is vast and diverse. Not many believe in all that is printed and corruption is an issue the congress is prepared to tackle although practically it is still there. Other political parties also have been accused of corruption. People think of other reasons to justify to stay on with congress and vote for it .I hope they will vote for stability and change which congress is offering


Q. congress has passed legislations that are popular as well as enhancing democracy and progress. You think the voters will think about them and forget about everything else.


R: That is right. The right to Information Act, Right to work Act and the proposed Food Bill, all these are far sighted and popular and tangible and genuine measures that the people of India will feel justified to overlook everything else while they go to vote.


Q. Do you think that the government handled the most recent border incidents with Pakistan was firm enough to forestall similar happenings on the border


R:We have a democratic structure of government and we do not react emotionally to incidents like that. what India wants is to preserve friendly relations with our neighbours at all times. That does not mean that India cannot act decisively as and when required. Confrontation and flare ups on the border is something that the government of India wants to avoid at all costs .


Q. In what ways will your organisation be involved in elections next year?


R. Although our involvement on an organisational level is little but our dedicated members through their friends and relations can make a small but creative and positive impact at least in some parts of India.


For a secular democratic nation like India the options are in my view limited. At the end of the day the majority of Indians have no much choice other than to vote for congress despite its short comings.


Q.It appears that the chineese incursion in to our territory more regular. India doesn’t seem doing much


R.India, china border is not clearly demarcated and there appears to be confusion on the part of the chinese on where their border ends. How ever high level negotiations are taking place to settle this matter.


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