Chennai: After saving its face in Rajasthan thanks to a truce facilitated by the high command, the Congress is once again facing an internal rebellion of sorts.
After many party leaders wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi, urging a change of leadership, the CWC meeting today witnessed heated exchanges between seniors.
According to reports, at the Congress Working Committee meet, Rahul Gandhi called the letter ill-timed and said the whole exercise was done in collusion with the BJP.
A K Antony and other leaders said the letter was unfortunate and cruel. Ghulam Nabi Azad and Kapil Sibal, who were a part of the group which wrote the letter, said they are upset by Rahul Gandhiâs remarks.
Sibal said he has never made a statement in favour of the BJP on any issue. Azad, meanwhile, offered to resign. Sonia Gandhi, however, is adamant on quitting and has asked the CWC members to begin the process of finding a new party chief.
Manmohan Singh and other leaders have asked her to continue as Congress chief. Randeep Singh Surjewala tagged Kapil Sibalâs tweet where he said Rahul Gandhi was accusing them of colluding with the BJP, and clarified that the former Congress chief “did not say a word of this nature nor alluded to it.”
Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi hit back at Ghulam Nabi Azad, saying “what you are saying is opposite of what you have written in the letter”.
“A year has lapsed now. In the interest of the party, I ask CWC to begin deliberations to put in a place of process of transition to relieve me from my duties,” said Sonia.
“Rahul Gandhi says we are colluding with BJP Succeeded in Rajasthan High Court defending the Congress Party. Defending party in Manipur to bring down BJP Govt. Last 30 years have never made a statement in favour of BJP on any issue. Yet we are colluding with the BJP â! tweeted Kapil Sibal.
Actress Divya Spandana aka ‘Kuthu’ Ramya tweeted, “Not only did they leak the letter to the media, they continue to feed/leak minute to minute conversations of the CWC meeting that’s going on right now to the media. Amazing!”
Azad said that he will resign from the party if he is found guilty of colluding with the BJP. Azad, who was subject to harsh criticism while reading a dissenting letter sent to Sonia Gandhi a few weeks ago, was responding to Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the signatories.
‘HAND’ IN GLOVE?
* After many party leaders wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi, urging a change of leadership, the CWC met today
* Rahul Gandhi called the letter ill-timed and said the whole exercise was done in collusion
* Ghulam Nabi Azad and Kapil Sibal, who were a part of the group which wrote the letter, said they are upset by Rahul Gandhiâs remarks.
* Sibal said he has never made a statement in favour of the BJP on any issue. Azad, meanwhile, offered to resign.
* Sonia Gandhi, however, is adamant on quitting and has asked the CWC members to begin the process of finding a new party chief.