Indian church official hails decision by Gandhi to decline office

Published: 2004-05-20

NEW DELHI, India (CNS) -- An Indian church official has hailed the decision of Sonia Gandhi -- the Italian-born widow of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi -- to decline serving as prime minister. "This is an excellent decision and we congratulate her for this," said Auxiliary Bishop Percival Fernandes of Mumbai, secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. Bishop Fernandes told Catholic News Service that Gandhi's decision "will give her greater acceptability and credibility in Indian politics and with the masses." Gandhi was unanimously chosen by newly elected members of Parliament to head the new government after the ruling National Democratic Alliance led by the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party was voted out in mid-May. Gandhi's Congress Party has selected Manmohan Singh, architect of India's economic reforms, to lead the government that is scheduled to be sworn in May 22.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .