NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Congress president Sitaram Kesri today fell in line with hardliners in the party and took a hawkish stance on the Jain Commission report. Naming the ``DMK leader and V P Singh'' for the first time as people indicted in the report, he said the Congress ``cannot remain a mute spectator anymore.''

``The question involved is emotional and we cannot take it lightly. Many names have come in the report, (like those of) DMK leader, V P Singh and others. Efforts are on to make the Jain Commission report irrelevant but we will not allow it,'' Kesri told the CPP meeting, called to discuss the party strategy vis-a-vis the United Front on this issue.

Kesri has thus done what Sonia Gandhi apparently wanted him to do and by naming the DMK and V P Singh, he has all but shut the door on any understanding with the UF. However, there is a section in the Congress which is not keen on early elections as indicated by the 100-odd MPs who stayed away from the CPP meet.

So far Kesri had taken a softer line than the likes of party vice-president Jitendra Prasada who want the DMK's head. But he seems to have little option now but to force the UF's hand especially by naming V P Singh. Singh is considered the father figure of the UF and any slander from the Congress on his name is unlikely to be met with smiles in the UF.

Apparently, Kesri named Singh after Sonia Gandhi was upset that the Congress had not done it so far. Sources suggested that Sonia was angry at Kesri not taking a strong line by himself and Kesri was making up for it today.

At the same time, however, Kesri bought time before taking the plunge by asking MPs to voice individual opinions, state-wise, to AICC general secretaries over the next two days. The CPP is to meet again, probably after the report is tabled, to formalise what appears to be a strong anti-UF decision.

However, there is a fair amount of scepticism on the issue and several party MPs are not keen on an early election. Over 100, of the 225-plus Congress MPs in Parliament, kept away from today's meeting sending out a strong signal to Kesri. The Congress claimed 125 people attended the meeting but a fourth of them were ex-MPs.

Even among those who were there, opinions were varied. MPs from States like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and West Bengal, where the Congress is in direct confrontation with the UF, are keen on pulling down the government. MPs from Maharashtra, Gujarat and other States are wary of anything which will precipitate a mid-term poll, as they have to face the BJP.

It was strange that so many MPs were not around to deliberate on the Jain Commission inquiry into Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, an issue the party says is dear to it. Some like Pradip Bhattacharya claimed no one told him about the meeting today. Others like Hanumantha Rao, Andhra Pradesh, ridiculed the idea of closed-door discussions on an issue like this.

The meeting was familiar Congress territory: the party president says his bit, he is heckled, others are shouted down by the president's men and the meeting ends in derision much earlier than expected. Rajya Sabha MPs take a hawkish line having nothing to lose but many Lok Sabha MPs disagree.

Kesri was heckled by Mamata Banerjee. ``Why should we go into little rooms for this matter. Let's talk in the open, we have come a long way for this,'' Banerjee fumed. She wrote to party leader in the Lok Sabha, Sharad Pawar, saying the Congress must not support any Front which includes people indicted in Rajiv's assassination and left for Calcutta.

Hanumantha Rao was more explicit: ``What will we do behind closed doors. Will the lights be on or off.'' Rao created a ruckus in the meeting with Banerjee. Suresh Kalmadi, who said the Congress cannot afford repeated elections, was shouted down by the Kesri brigade.

Sensing things were going out of hand, Kesri called a swift end to the meeting 40 minutes after it began at 4 pm in Parliament's Central Hall. ``Let us not exhibit differences on this issue. Let us not be divided. Even a small dissent will adversely affect the party image. What I say today is important, duty is above all things,'' Kesri said.

This was blown apart outside the Central Hall by MPs going by sundry views. Said Prithviraj Chauhan: ``Gujral is better than Gowda. But we can't make minor differences. If we are kicked by the Left, DMK or TDP it means Gujral is kicking us.''

Hanumatha Rao said ``Chandrababu Naidu has already given a clean chit to Karunanidhi. We must say the DMK head is guilty.'

Former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao was less vocal: ``Am I supposed to give you my opinion. We have to follow a procedure being laid down,'' was all he said.

Bhuvanesh Chaturvedi blamed the media and charged: ``The media is hyping up the issue. As you can see, Congress MPs are not so heated up.''

Sharad Pawar was at his succint best and quipped: ``Those who want to give their opinion without reading the report are welcome. I would like to read it first.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.