Anand Sharma calls speaking truth a ‘crime’ after Rajya Sabha snub

Failing to secure the Congress nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh, former Union Minister Anand Sharma on Thursday said in today’s political climate, speaking the truth is treated as a “crime” and “a curse”.

Sharma, who was widely seen as a frontrunner for the nomination, appeared visibly disappointed after the party high command chose Kangra District Congress Committee president Anurag Sharma as its candidate.

“I do not wish to say anything as I have no information about this (Rajya Sabha nomination). Only the supreme command of the party has the authority and, in its wisdom, has taken the call. Perhaps they can explain the merits and demerits of this decision,” he said.

Reflecting on his long political journey, Sharma said he had worked closely with former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, as well as senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. “Now I feel that self-respect is expensive and there is a price to pay. Speaking the truth has become a punishable political crime. Anand Sharma can never be deterred from speaking the truth,” he remarked.

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Although Sharma maintained that he was not personally dejected over being denied the Rajya Sabha berth, his remarks reflected clear disenchantment with the party leadership. “One has to pay a big price in politics for having self-esteem. Speaking the truth in politics is considered nothing short of a crime and a curse,” he said.

Speculation about Sharma’s candidature had intensified after his arrival in Kasauli on March 3 and later in Shimla. While he refrained from commenting on Anurag Sharma’s candidature, the development carries significance as the former Union Minister was once considered a political mentor to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.