New Delhi (TIP)- Ghulam Nabi Azad’s explosion, on a day when it finalized the schedule for the party’s presidential polls, has rattled the Congress. After much delay, the polls will now be held on October 17. The Congress hit back at the veteran leader, saying he revolted only because he wanted a Rajya Sabha seat and wanted to retain the bungalow in South Avenue, in the heart of the national capital. Azad, who is now working on his tell-all autobiography, told News18.com: “Around 90% of the Congress is not Congressi. Some are picked up from colleges, some clerks of the CM have been given positions. I can’t argue with people who have no idea of their own history. I wrote a letter as the Leader of Opposition to Mrs Gandhi even before the G-23. What did they do? They told me to coordinate with KC Venugopal. I told them he was in school when I was the general secretary. Then someone from the family said then speak to Randeep Surjewala. I told them, by the way, when I was the general secretary, Randeep’s father was part of the PCC. He worked under me. How can I discuss the party with his son? What are you saying, Rahul Gandhiji?”
Azad’s anger and bitterness is directed more at Rahul Gandhi. As to whether Rahul Gandhi should be the party president? “If he does not, whoever becomes the party president will have to be his slave and carry his files. Ask them how much time they give to the party? They don’t have time for the party and question my timing? We used to give over 20 hours even when we were his age.”
He burst out when he was reminded that when Rahul Gandhi resigned as the president, he had accused the seniors of not supporting him. “What cooperation? Over what? He said why didn’t you say ‘chowkidar chor hai’? I told him this may be your language, not mine. Even Indira Gandhi never told us to say this to Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Rajiv Gandhi told us to go to homes of Opposition leaders. We can’t talk like this. We are not brought up like this.”
Source: News 18