Shun politics of opportunism, Jakhar urges senior leaders

Chandigarh, February 28

Hitting out at recent statements of some senior party leaders, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Sunil Jakhar castigated them for indulging in politics of opportunism at a time when every Congress worker is fighting a battle to save the idea of India under “assault from the central regime”.

Those raising their voice against reforms in an organisation which gave them the most potent platform to evolve as leaders are doing a great disservice not only to the party but also to the country, Jakhar said in a hard-hitting statement here today.

Reminding them that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had led the struggle against draconian anti-farmer legislations from Punjab, Jakhar invited them to join the politics of struggle for the common man tomorrow when the state Congress leads a protest march to gherao the Governor against spiralling prices of essential commodities.

“Come and join me in the protest which would be a refresher course for you all in raising voice of the people we serve far away from the cozy environs of the Rajya Sabha galleries,” Jakhar quipped.

On being asked about Kapil Sibal, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Raj Babbar and Anand Sharma’s statements, Jakhar urged all senior leaders to take up the issues of people. He disagreed with Babbar’s ‘Hum hi Congress hain’ comment, underlining the “Congress party is older than you and me” and its core philosophy has consistently been of public service only. He added such comments did not behove a senior leader like Babbar.

On Azad’s statement that he has retired from the Rajya Sabha and not from active politics, Jakhar said retiring from the Upper House never means retiring from politics at all and rather politics has begun now. Responding to Sibal’s statement about the need to further strenthen the party, the PPCC chief invited him to come and join him to work for the people in the streets to make the party and the country stronger. — TNS