Agri minister Chander Kumar distances himself from son Bharti’s remarks

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh agriculture minister Chander Kumar on Saturday distanced himself from the recent remarks made by his son and former MLA, Neeraj Bharti, regarding the functioning of the Congress party.Chander Kumar said that while the Congress respected freedom of expression, Bharti's statements neither represented the party's official position nor were they justified.The statement comes a day after the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) accepted Bharti's resignation as vice-president of the state Congress unit. Bharti has recently been critical of the state govt and the party leadership.The agriculture minister said the Congress party and the govt functioned on the principles of discipline and collective responsibility. If Bharti had concerns about the party's functioning, he should have raised these before the leadership through appropriate organisational channels rather than making public comments, he said.The minister said that having served as a public representative and as the state Congress vice-president Bharti was expected to act with greater responsibility and restraint.Kumar further said that public accusations and counter-accusations had not only harmed the image of the party but also affected Bharti's own political standing.Reiterating the Congress party's commitment to its core values, Kumar said the state govt remained focused on fulfilling its promises and strengthening the rural economy.Neeraj Bharti expelled (BOX)District Congress Committee, Kangra, on Saturday expelled former chief parliamentary secretary Neeraj Bharti from the primary membership of the Congress party for six years, effective immediately, on Saturday. A letter issued by Congress MP and party's Kangra district president, Anuraj Sharma, mentioned that Bharti had been expelled considering the anti-party activities and conduct found against organisational discipline and party interests.MSID:: 131550124 413 |