HYDERABAD: The Telangana Congress leaders on Friday charged Ghulam Nabi Azad of quitting the Congress and resorting to levelling allegations against some of the members of Gandhi family as part of conspiracy by “divisive forces” to hurt the morale of the party workers ahead of Congress’ huge protest at Ram Leela maidan against rising prices on September 4 and launch of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodu yatra on September 7.
In a joint statement, Congress leaders Bhatti Vikramarka, V Hanumanth Rao, G Niranjan, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Damodar Raja Narasimha, Md Ali Shabbir, J Geetha Reddy, Mahesh Kumar Goud, Anjan Kumar Yadav, A Maheshwar Reddy, S A Sampath Kumar, Mallu Ravi and E Anil slammed Azad for enjoying various posts in the party and the government including opposition leader in Rajya Sabha, Union minister, chief minister, CWC member for the last 40 years and levelling allegations while leaving the party.
The Congress members said it is very wicked on the part of Azad to use words like “childish behaviour” against Rahul Gandhi. Whatever Ghulam Nabi Azad has achieved in his life so far, it is because of the Congress party. It is unfortunate that he has launched a vicious attack on the party and its leader Rahul Gandhi at a time when he should have stood rock solid behind the party and Gandhi family fighting all out to stop the communal forces including BJP and RSS from dividing the country on religious lines, destroying the economy, constitution, democracy and privatising the public sector undertakings.
Niranjan said Azad stood by Indira Gandhi after the party debacle after emergency. He played a key role in strengthening the Indira Congress after its formation in 1978 and served the party in various capacities. The party cadre is unable to digest his decision.
The country and party is now facing a difficult situation and there is danger to the integrity of the nation and communal harmony in the country. His experience and services are very much required at this stage in the larger interests of the nation and the party.
His resignation is a big jolt to the struggle for saving the democracy in the country.With his long association with the family of Indira Gandhi he should have used his intimacy in setting right instead of resignation.
Irrespective of these developments the Congress party cadre should make the Bharath jodo padayatra of Rahul Gandhi from September 7 a grand success to enlighten the people and to strengthen the Congress Party.