Ahmed ready to make any `sacrifice' for party unity

Ahmed ready to make any `sacrifice' for party unity
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

AHMEDABAD, JULY 9: Former AICC treasurer Ahmed Patel, who was accorded an unprecedented welcome by party-workers on his arrival here on Saturday, said he was willing to take any initiative and make any sacrifice that the party high command would want him to if that helped unite the party organisation in Gujarat.

At a crowded press conference at the Shahibaug Circuit House, Ahmed Patel said he had never dreamt of such a grand reception in the state and was grateful to all his party-colleagues. He said he would work for party unity.

Patel said the Congress could not be allowed to be used by some people as a vehicle to fulfil their personal ambitions and that all should strive to serve the people and put up a united fight against the BJP misrule at the Centre and the states instead of fighting each other.

He said the presence of a large number of party workers at the railway station should not be construed as a show of strength against any person or group. Rather, it was ``a show of Congress strength'' which would be used against the BJP's misrule.

However, he said he would not spare critics of Sonia in the state and said he did not agree with the suggestion that Sonia was inexperienced in party politics. ``As for those who claim to be experienced, we can see what had happened during their tenure in Gujarat'', he said without taking names.

Patel said he would be able to do party work in Gujarat more effectively ``now that I have resigned as AICC treasurer''. He denied nursing any grudge against anybody and that ``Madhavsinh Solanki is a very senior leader of Gujarat but there are other senior leaders too''.

Ahmed Patel said those making uncharitable remarks against him did so out of jealousy for his having a plum post in the party and being close to Sonia Gandhi. He said such persons could only be pitied for their negative attitude.

He said that 51 out of 57 MLAs and all the nine party MPs supported him but said this should not be seen as a vertical split in the party. He said he was not against any individual and any decision about indiscipline in the State party unit would be taken only by the high command.

He also attacked the BJP governments at the Centre and in the State for failure on the law and order front, price rise, poverty, faulty policies on disinvestment and rampant corruption. He said the government was not at all serious on the autonomy issue and was treating it very lightly as could be seen from the contrasting statements coming from the Government.