2/28/2021 Congress getting weaker by the day: ‘G-23’ leaders - Times of India

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Congress getting weaker by the day: ‘G-23’ leaders

TNN | Feb 28, 2021, 01.48 AM IST

DELHI/JAMMU: The Congress ‘G-23’ bloc of dissenting leaders said at a

public rally in Jammu on Saturday the party was weakening by the day
and it was their endeavour to strengthen it in national interest. This
marked their first collective bid to raise grievances outside the party and
position themselves for the coming organisational elections.
With no fig leaf to dismiss the rebel motivations, Congress spokesman
Abhishek Singhvi bluntly told the dissenters, who include Kapil Sibal,
Anand Sharma, Raj Babbar, Manish Tewari, they better campaign in the
election-bound states as this would better reflect their concerns. The
party, however, dismissed as “irrelevant” queries about disciplinary action
against the rebels, though the Congress brass was the un-named object
of criticism.

With former leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad at the centre of a felicitation ceremony in Jammu to mark
his return home after retirement from the House, key members of the rebel bloc praised his political skills and lamented
Congress had let him retire from Parliament. They demanded he be used in the organisational affairs. Also present were RS MP
Vivek Tankha and Haryana strongman Bhupinder Hooda.

Interestingly, given the purported occasion, the official J&K Congress had also welcomed Azad on Friday.

However, the stress of the rebels, especially Sibal and Sharma, that Congress is on a slide demonstrated that the G-23 has not
given up its aggression after the CWC last month decided that internal polls — a key demand of the grouping — will be held in
June. The decision to go public suggested that they are playing for the next round when the party would decide on the nature
of internal polls to be held. The Azad-led bloc has demanded that besides Congress president, polls should be held for CWC
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2/28/2021 Congress getting weaker by the day: ‘G-23’ leaders - Times of India

as well as the CEC and the Central Parliamentary Board be revived, while the leadership appears ready only for polls for
Congress presidency and CWC.

Sibal said, “It is an occasion to speak the truth and the truth is we can all see that Congress is getting weak … that is why we
have gathered here ... we have to strengthen the party together.”

Repeating that Congress had “weakened”, Sharma said, “Our voice is for the betterment of the party. It should be strengthened
everywhere once again. The new generation should connect (to the party).” He lamented, “We have seen good days of
Congress. We do not want to see it weakening as we become older.”

The other focus was the demand that Azad be used in organisational affairs. Sibal, Sharma and Tewari said Azad knew
Congress like few do and that they were sad that he was “freed” from Parliament and “we are with Azad”.

The regret over Congress weakening and Azad’s retirement sounded like a jibe at the leadership.

As Azad said Congress respected Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh — “all regions, religions, castes” — there appeared a censure of
Rahul Gandhi’s recent controversial remark about north-south India.

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