Sharief reaffirms loyalty to Sonia

Sharief reaffirms loyalty to Sonia
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

BANGALORE, MARCH 5: In an apparent move to reaffirm loyalty to party president Sonia Gandhi, senior Congress leader C K Jaffar Sharief on Sunday asserted that she was the only leader who was a unifying force of Congress.

Sharief's assertion comes close on the heels of reports which quoted him as saying that Gandhi should change her style of functioning and his veiled attack on Chief Minister S M Krishna.

``I am surprised and shocked at the debate in the media with regard to my statement taking exception to the statement of the Chief Minister that those who do not accept the leadership of Sonia Gandhi should leave the Congress,'' he said

Saying that Gandhi was the only leader `as a unifying force of the Indian National Congress,' he said, ``I therefore set at rest the mis-interpretation, doubts and confusion created by my statement which I have not meant.'' Sharief said his commitment and devotion to the party would remain unchanged.

Recently, soon after Krishna had reportedly said that those averse to Gandhi's leadership might leave the party, Sharief had flayed it saying it was `unwarranted' for the Chief Minister to say so when none had questioned Gandhi.

Sharief said losing elections in Bihar, Orissa and Haryana did not reflect in any manner on the leadership of Gandhi.

Sharief said in a democratic process, `some time, we lose the battle and many times, we win the battle. This has happened even during the time of Indira Gandhi, who was the tallest leader of our times'.

He also noted that the Congress had won the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan under the leadership of Gandhi.

The results of Bihar, Orissa and Haryana did not give credit to any political party nor the Congress has lost anything in these states, he said.