'No PM does everything wrong': Ex-Congress leader praises party; calls it most effective opposition

NEW DELHI: Former Union minister and ex-Congress leader Ashwani Kumar claimed that there could not be an effective opposition than Congress, however, the party has "somewhere lost ground." He also emphasised that he does not believe in the idea that any Prime Minister will do "everything wrong."

“The impression that this regime does everything wrong, that this prime minister does everything wrong, is also not correct,” he said.




Kumar, at the launch of his book 'Guardians of the Republic', also highlighted ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's leadership represented magnanimity, which is an important trait for a democratic leader.

"You need not the narrowness of mind, but the largeness of spirit, the magnanimity of the heart. That is the quality of leadership which Manmohan Singh represented. And that is the leadership that Jawaharlal Nehru represented," Ashwani Kumar said.

Positioning the Congress as central to India’s democratic balance, Kumar said the party retains influence across the country but has "somewhere lost ground."

"Congress is a great party, and there cannot be an effective opposition in the country without it. That is a certainty. It still has its influence across the country. But yes, somewhere it has lost ground," Kumar said.

He argued that the party must strengthen itself through introspection rather than blaming opponents, adding that the BJP has "no obligation" to help the Congress regain its footing.

"It must look inward for the weaknesses rather than finding fault with the opposition parties. Congress will have to strengthen itself from within by looking inwards, by introspecting. For example, Rahul Gandhi, his heart is in the right place. He is an idealist. He speaks for the poor. And I like that. But somewhere, the messaging of the Congress has gone wrong. I don't know. I cannot comment," Kumar said.

He also voiced strong regard for the Congress’s ideological orientation and the current leadership in the party.

"I still have the greatest regard for the Congress party for its ideological orientation. I have great respect even for its present leaders. I may have left the party, but I have the highest personal respect for Sonia Gandhi for unfailingly maintaining civility and decency in public life," Kumar said, "In my long, personal association with her, I never found her to be arrogant. She has strong views. She has strong likes and dislikes. That I can concede."

Kumar further went on to add his appreciation for Sonia Gandhi for choosing Dr Manmohan Singh as the prime minister.

"But she represents dignity and civility in public life. And I must give her one final and ultimate credit. When there were so many people among whom she could choose to be a Prime Minister, she chose Manmohan Singh for his civility and dignity," Kumar said.

Talking about the book Kumar said the book engages with constitutional questions around democracy, human dignity and human rights, and explores liberty, equality and justice in everyday life.
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