From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

BANGLAORE, APRIL 22:  DUBBING the regional parties as mostly caste-based and parochial without national interests or international outlook,  senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad a consortium of regional parties cannot ever hope to lead the country as only a truly national party like the Congress fit the bill.

The AICC general secretary and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, who is also the Congress party in-charge in Karnataka, said even BJP was not a match to Congress, though both were national political parties. But the regional parties were incapable to framing economic and foreign policy and help in ensuring that India’s stature was recognized globally, he said.

"BJP is a national party, no doubt. But its credibility is very low and has no acceptability across the entire country nor among all sections,’’ he said pointing out that Congress party alone had national vision, international outlook and the capability to lead the country besides enjoying acceptability among people of all regions, religions and castes.

Unlike other parties, Azad said Congress practiced the politics of consensus and cooperation. ``Only an united India can deal with problems like terrorism and communalism,’’ he said pointing out that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh enjoyed the umatched reputation for honesty, intregrity, probity and gentlemanship besides the stature of internationally recognized economist.  ``Is there any other person in any party who can match Dr Singh in all these aspects?,’’he asked and contended that Dr Singh commanded respect among world leaders.

Lambasting BJP for denigrating Dr B R Ambedkar, the Congress leader said the BJP leaders might be emboldened to even claim that father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi had nothing to do in India’s freedom struggle or the country becoming independent if they  were allowed to belittle the architect of Indian Constitution . ``This is a very dangerous trend and must be nipped in the bud,’’he said.

Asked to comment on Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi’s remarks claiming that LTTE chief Prabhakaran was his friend, the Congress leader pointed out that the DMK chief had denied the remarks.  ``In any case, we don’t agree with Karunanidhi’s views on LTTE or Prabhakaran because they are proclaimed offenders in our leader Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. We cannot overlook facts and pander to sectarian sentiments,’’he asserted.

To a question on BJP’s campaign on bringing back black money stashed in Swiss banks by Indians,  Azad wondered why BJP or its prime ministerial candidate L K Advani did nothing on the issue during six years of NDA rule.  ``Why have they woken up now?,’’he said claiming that Congress party will do its best to bring back the wealth belonging to India.