Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 30
Knives are out in the Congress over a section of dissenters making daily public statements against the leadership, with Punjab party president Sunil Jakhar on Sunday becoming the first Congress functionary to publicly demand action against the out of line people.
"The Congress president will have to draw a line somewhere. Strong action must be taken against party persons, no matter how senior, who continue to needle the leadership daily even after our president Sonia Gandhi graciously told them she bore no ill-will against anyone. These dissenters are aware that the Congress is going through difficult times. They think they are untouchables and can continue to exploit the party's predicament. They must be dealt with sternly," said Jakhar days after another veteran Ambika Soni demanded disciplinary action against letter writers in the meeting of the Congress Working Committee.
Jakhar also slammed the dissenters for talking inner party reforms and said their demands lacked credibility and conviction. "Some of these people who are asking for reforms have spent quarter of a century in the Rajya Sabha. Their attempt even today is not to cement the party, but to secure their personal positions. If they were so concerned about grooming others and strengthening the Congress, why didn't they step back from the Rajya Sabha and vacate the seats for youngsters. Had they done so, maybe Jyotiraditya Scindia would not have left for the BJP," said Jakhar.
He also questioned Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, one of the signatories to the controversial letter, for seeking CWC elections now and recalled how Azad had in the 2018 AICC session moved a resolution authorising Congress chief to appoint CWC members.
"What has changed in two years for Azad, except that his RS term is now expiring. Now, he says the CWC elections would ensure fixed tenure for a CWC member who can then speak his mind openly. I want to ask Azad, my senior, whether he needs a secure job to speak his mind. Well, if he does he should look for a government job. When in politics leaders need courage of conviction, not secure CWC tenures, to say what they have to say," said Jakhar, attacking former Punjab CM Rajinder Bhattal for joining the letter writers.
The Punjab Congress chief also said the party will have to bite the bullet one day and put its foot down against indiscipline by leaders.
"Too many indiscretions have gone unpunished in Congress. We have seen this in Rajasthan, Punjab and now with this letter. The party will emerge stronger by telling people enough is enough," Jakhar said.
He also said the letter on the one hand seeks elections for party president's post and CWC and on the other says NSUI and Youth Congress elections have weakened the cadre feeding organisations.
"So, elections to IYC are bad and elections from block committee up to AICC are good? What's this logic?" asked Jakhar, adding that those who never contested elections are seeking elections today.
The Punjab Congress president also accused senior letter writers of betraying Sonia Gandhi and writing a "caustic" letter to her when she was ailing.
"What these seniors did was no less than what Brutus did to Caesar," he said.
Source:- The Tribune https://ift.tt/2G7EeJj
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