Kerala MP Shashi Tharoor not only extended his support to Sibal in a tweet, but also condemned the protest outside Sibal’s house on Thursday night by Delhi Congress workers during which his car was vandalized and slogans were raised.

“This is shameful. We all know @KapilSibal as a true Congressman who has fought many cases in court for @INCIndia. As a democratic party we need to hear what he has to say, Disagree, but not in this way. Our priority is to strengthen ourselves to take on BJP! he tweeted.

Tharoor’s tweet termed the protest outside Sibal’s house as “hooliganism” after senior leader Manish Tewari’s remarks. “Those who are trying to defend ‘Command Demonstration’ last night, this is what happened at @KapilSibal’s house” They damaged the car. He stood up, then fell. Throw tomatoes both outside and inside the house. If this is not hooliganism then what is? Tiwari wrote.

Congress veteran and former Union minister P. Chidambaram also expressed concern over the developments, saying, “I feel helpless when we cannot initiate meaningful dialogue within the party forums. When I visit the residence of one of my colleague and MP. I also feel hurt and helpless when I see pictures of Congress workers shouting slogans outside U.P.

Sibal said during a press briefing on Thursday that he would raise the issue as “we are G-23, definitely not Ji Huzoor-23”. He also lamented the recent defeat of the party, citing Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada, Sushmita Dev and Luizinho Faleiro. This came a day after Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from the post of Punjab Congress President, triggering a shock wave in the political circles of the state.

Sibal is one of the most aggressive faces of G-23, a group that includes disgruntled Congress leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari and Anand Sharma. These leaders had written a letter to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi last August, calling for a full-time party president and sweeping changes within the organisation.

Sibal had complained in his press conference that despite flagging the issues last year, the high command had not yet acted. “I am standing here with a heavy heart. Our people are leaving us. Sushmita, Faleiro… Jitin became minister.. Scindia also left long ago… People everywhere are leaving us. There is no president in our party. We know, yet we do not know,” Sibal had also said that he cannot see the Congress weakening.

The post Congress Vs Congress Crisis Deepens Tharoor, Chidambaram, Manish Tewari support Sibal appeared first on The Daily Voice.

Not only has the Bharatiya Janata Party targeted him during independent wheelchair discussions for his statements, but many senior leaders of Rahul’s own party are also questioning the timing, noting that elections to five states will take place in one and three weeks Are going to be

At a time when Rahul should focus on campaigning in the states, he is seen giving interviews on democracy, development and life in politics, India and the world.

The conversation has an international and large-scale urban audience primarily in India. Rahul forgets that he is not going to vote in these elections.

Furthermore, Kaushik Basu, who was the Chief Economic Advisor during the UPA government, has been a critic of Modi’s economic policies and programs and is not considered a neutral observer.

Rahul admitted in the interview that it was a mistake by his grandmother Indira Gandhi to enforce the Emergency.

The reference to emergency is unlikely to bring any political dividend. Rather, in states like Kerala and West Bengal, any recollection of the Emergency era is likely to drive away voters, especially senior citizens.

It is tantamount to achieving a self-goal, to provide free fodder to the BJP to attack the Congress during the election campaign in the states.

Rahul also attacked the BJP during the discussion, saying: “Democracy is being strangled in India. Institutions are attacked, we are not allowed to speak in Parliament, there is no recruitment in the judiciary now… There is a whole scale attack. “

The entry related to the emergency neutralizes Rahul’s allegation that the BJP is killing democracy in India. The BJP has accused Rahul of interviewing anti-India elements and damaging the country’s reputation by making such lewd statements.

Rahul said that the Emergency was different from the present scenario as the Congress did not have an attempt to occupy the institutional structure of the country, as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was now attempting.

He further alleged that the RSS was comparable to the radical Islamists in Pakistan.

The minority community has a large presence in two states, Assam and West Bengal, where the BJP is in dispute. This statement is about charging the RSS cadre to work in favor of the BJP candidates and further polarizing the electorate in an already charged environment.

Rahul also did not miss the opportunity to attack 23 G-23 rebels in the Congress. Rejecting his attack on the demand to hold elections for organizational posts, including the post of president, Rahul Gandhi said: “I am the person who pushed the elections in youth organizations and student organizations and there was a severe beating in the press for this . I was literally crucified to make the choice. I was attacked by people from my own party. “

This is tantamount to washing dirty linen in public. At a time when the party needs to form a united front, this statement has widened the gap between the G-23 leaders and their supporters and Gandhi’s loyalists.

Anand Sharma (G-23) and Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary are engaged in a battle of words to incorporate the India Secular Front in Mahajot, West Bengal.

While the interview is part of Rahul’s public relations and brand-building practice, the timing, context, and selection of a mediator defeats the purpose.

Why is Rahul not speaking from Indian media outlets / channels and that too in Hindi or any other regional language? Voters from five states would certainly like to hear their views on various issues.

The most important part was missing from the interview: Rahul’s vision for New India and what is the roadmap to achieve it. He again failed to connect with the public in India with this interview.

The post Rahul’s interview just before the state elections will do more harm than benefit Congress appeared first on The Daily Voice.

New Delhi: Amused by the open condemnation of party colleague Anand Sharma, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary today posted a series of tweets in a scare thread titled “No Your Facts, Anand Sharma”.

Anand Sharma yesterday questioned the Bengal Congress for its decision to tie up with the ISF (Indian Secular Front) for the state elections starting later this month. The former Union Minister tweeted, Congress cannot be “selective” about fighting communalism.

2/4
Know ur facts @AnandSharmaINC : –

2. @INCIndia has got its full share of seats. Left Front is allocating seats from its share to the newly formed Indian Secular Front-ISF. Ur choice to call the decision of CPM led front ‘communal’ is only serving the polarising agenda of BJP

— Adhir Chowdhury (@adhirrcinc) March 1, 2021

3/4
Know ur facts @AnandSharmaINC ji-

3. Those who are committed to fight against #BJP parties venomous communalism should support the Congress & campaign for the party in five states rather than attempting to undermine the party by remarks in tune with BJP’s agenda.

— Adhir Chowdhury (@adhirrcinc) March 1, 2021

Adhir Chaudhary today said that he would “urge a select group of eminent Congressmen to always demand private amenities” and stop praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was also seen referring to Mr. Sharma as well as Ghulam Nabi Azad, who said that he was proud of leaders like PM Modi. Both are part of a disgruntled group of Congress known as the “G-23s”, who have regularly criticized the party’s rulings as it wrote a controversial letter to the “full-time and visible leadership” in the party , Which was apparently targeting Gandhism.

Such is the burden of loyalty that he despite being PCC President, floor leader in LS and a former Union Minister gets insulted on stage, yet he is made to live with this insult and defend communal elements.

What a pitiable position to be in. https://t.co/yb4TKPvq0t

— BJP (@BJP4India) March 2, 2021

“Chaudhary will urge a select group of Congressmen to always rise up in search of personal comforts and stop wasting time praising the PM. They will strengthen the party and weaken the tree that nourishes them Does not perform duty, ”Mr. Chaudhary Head. Congress, stationed in Bengal.

He also said that the Congress was part of the CPI (M) -led Left Front in Bengal, which was “determined to defeat the BJP”. He said that calling the Front’s decision “communal” would be in the hands of the BJP only, he remarked.

Mr. Chaudhary also said that those committed to fight against the “toxic communalism” of the BJP should support the Congress campaign in five states instead of reducing it.

What I've said is an expression of my concerns. Not only that I'm firmly committed to Congress ideology, which is inclusive, democratic & secular, but I’m also one of the historians & ideologue of the party & it has to be taken in that context: Anand Sharma, Congress on his tweet https://t.co/wKhHO7Bjgo pic.twitter.com/RjJRikS8cb

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2021

The thread was widely circulated and attracted many comments. BJP made fun of Congress leader

“There is such a burden of loyalty that he gets humiliated on stage despite being the PCC president, floor leader in LS and a former Union minister, yet he is made to live with this insult and defend the communal elements. ” BJP tweeted, sharing the thread.

Anand Sharma, targeting Mr. Chaudhary, was referring to the scene of him sharing a stage at an election rally with the Left and the ISF. “Congress’s alliance with ISF and similar parties goes against its core ideology, and secularism has been advocated by Gandhi and Nehru, which is the soul of Congress. These issues should be discussed by the Congress Working Committee (CWC) , “Mr. Sharma. Tweeted in Hindi. “In the fight against communalism, Congress cannot be selective.

We must fight against communalism in all its forms. The presence and support of the West Bengal Congress chief is shameful, he will have to make his stand clear. Is known for his controversial remarks in religious speeches. The Left denies that the organization is communal. Bengal will vote from March 27 with three more states and one union territory and the result will come on May 2.

The post A Twitter War in Congress vs Congress: “Stop Wasting Time on Praising PM” tweets Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary appeared first on The Daily Voice.

As Ghulam Nabi Azad returns to Jammu for a series of public meetings and returns home after a year, the battlefield has changed. This site has been carefully chosen as its independent karmabhoomi and may very well land for another rebellion in the party. Interestingly, it will not be free alone. There are six other rebels in his favor – Kapil Sibal, Anand Sharma, Vivek Tankha, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Manish Tiwari and Bhupinder Hooda.

The message is very clear. It is a show of solidarity and courage for the party. Azad’s recent farewell, where the PM was emotional, after his party rejected the proposal of allies to get him a Rajya Sabha seat from another state, is believed to have hurt Azad and others. Adding to this fact is that no senior is consulted as soon as the Congress faces an important election.

Azad, well versed with the functioning of the DMK, was not sent to negotiate seat-sharing. Randeep Surjewala was succeeded by him. This has increased the anger of Bhupendra Hooda, who was hoping to get support from the party to topple the Khattar government. But Surjewala and Kumari Selja, popularly known as Hooda Buyers, are believed to have rejected the idea and Rahul Gandhi agreed with them.

Anand Sharma is also hurt by the fact that for one year for the tenure of the Rajya Sabha, he was ignored for the post of Leader of the Opposition. It was given to Mallikarjun Kharge, a confidant of Rahul Gandhi. Sources say that some rebel groups suggested to Anand Sharma that he should resign. Which course did not take place

what then? Two points will be made in this show of solidarity in Jammu. One, why are they or seniors not advised on election strategy and two, who is taking decisions in the absence of a full-time president?

All eyes will be on the election results. Now, if Rahul wins in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu and performs well in Assam, it is the new guard who will remain in control. But if the results are poor, the group of 23 will use the show as a fully launching pad for the war against the new Congress by a group of seven in solidarity in Jammu.

Senior Congress leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kapil Sibal and Anand Sharma on Saturday, 27 February, attended the ‘Shanti Sammelan’ in Jammu.

Most of the leaders in Jammu at the moment are senior members of Congress who have been seen as dissenters on various occasions for having spoken up against the party’s decisions and functioning.

They have also been referred to as G-23, a group of 23 dissenting leaders.

“People say ‘G23’, I say Gandhi 23. With the belief, resolve and thinking of Mahatma Gandhi, this nation’s law and Constitution was formed. Congress is standing strongly to take these forward. ‘G23’ want Congress to be strong,” party leader Raj Babbar said.

“The truth is that we see Congress party becoming weak. That is why we have gathered here. We had gathered together earlier too and we have to strengthen the party together,” senior party leader Kapil Sibal said.

The post Another revolt in congress? Ghulam Nabi Azad’s homecoming Congress’s battleground till Jammu appeared first on The Daily Voice.

Azad is scheduled to retire on February 15 and will vacate the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, is one of the four members to retire from the upper house this month.

Azad became a Rajya Sabha member representing Maharashtra before becoming the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 1990. He was an MP from the state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2009, before becoming the leader of the opposition elected by the Congress in 2014.

“If any Muslim should take pride in the world, it must be an Indian Muslim. Over the years, we have seen how Muslim countries are being destroyed from Afghanistan to Iraq. There are no Hindus or Christians, they are among themselves. Fighting, ”said Azad, on an emotional note.

However, he announced his retirement in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, saying that he is a “proud Indian Muslim”. There is speculation that Azad may return to the Rajya Sabha by nominating from Kerala in April.

The Congress is now considering some other leaders for the post such as Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge who has frequently raised issues on behalf of the party in the Lok Sabha, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Deputy Leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma Digvijay Singh, and MP. Kapil Sibal, however, had suggested in the past a change of party, which could work against him.

The post Here’s Who is to replace Ghulam Nabi Azad as the opposition leader in Rajya Sabha? appeared first on The Daily Voice.

While the party officially not disclosed about their travel plans and duration of their stay in Goa, sources said Sonia are going to be within the state for a couple of days since her doctors have advised her to be faraway from the heavy pollution in Delhi in sight of her chronic chest infection. Sonia are going to be in Goa till the air quality in Delhi improves, leaders said. Doctors advise Sonia Gandhi to briefly move faraway from Delhi.

When contacted, another leader said, “Instead of addressing organizational matters, we are asked to seem at policy issues. The party already has the forums and therefore the in-house expertise to offer inputs to the Congress president on any development and involving the previous Prime Minister during this exercise is belittling the office he held.”

The fixing of the panels, significantly, came days after top party leaders spoke in several voices on India staying out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Shashi Tharoor, Anand Sharma and Veerappa Moily, all a part of the ‘group of 23’, were accomodated within the panels. 

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday found out three committees comprising top party leaders to assist her formulate the party’s position on economic issues, foreign affairs and national security. Barring one or two, the panels are full of the faction, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and many former Union ministers. Former Prime Minister Singh has been included altogether three panels. 

Besides him, the members of the committee on economic affairs are former minister of finance P Chidambaram, former leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh. Former union minister Jairam Ramesh are going to be the convener of the group. 

Among the members are Azad, former union ministers Anand Sharma, M Veerappa Moily and Shashi Tharoor, who were signatories to the unprecedented letter a gaggle of 23 leaders had written to Gandhi in August seeking sweeping changes in the party. The composition of the panels signals Gandhi’s continued reliance on veteran and experienced leaders when it comes to deliberating on serious policy matters. 

The fixing of the panels, significantly, came days after top party leaders spoke in several voices on India staying out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. Even on the difficulty of restoration of Article 370, the view within the party had been divided. Four senior leaders included, who had raised serious questions on the functioning of the party in the letter, Gandhi has once again signaled that she does not hold any ill will against them.

It is also seen as an effort to make sure that the rumblings within the party, which resurfaced after the Congress’s poor performance within the Bihar elections and therefore the assembly bye-elections, do not gather momentum. But the leaders who wrote the letter to Gandhi aren’t enthused by the move.

I am not enthused but amused the problems that we had raised remain unaddressed and therefore the party is during a state of drift,” one among the senior leaders who has been included within the panels. Sharma, Tharoor, former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid and young Lok Sabha MP from Odisha Saptagiri Ulaka are made members of the panel on foreign affairs. 

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