"We are not part of it", says ex-K'taka CM Veerappa Moily, distancing himself from 'G-23' Jammu meet
Bengaluru, Mar 1: Distancing himself from the Jammu meet of G-23 leaders, senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily on Monday virtually expressed concern over internal differences in the party spilling out into the open, and backed Rahul Gandhi's return as President of the outfit.
The former union minister was one of the group of 23 leaders who wrote to the interim President Sonia Gandhi in August last year urging her to ensure "full-time" and "visible" leadership.It has since come to be known as 'G-23'.
Referring to the rally on Saturday at Jammu by some of the 'G-23' leaders ostensibly to felicitate Ghulam Nabi Azad on his retirement from the Rajya Sabha -- seen as a show of strength, Moily said it has been misread as a 'dissident' meeting.
"It is not a dissident meeting. We (some of the 'G-23' leaders) are not part of it," he told PTI.
In a public show of dissent, the leaders, including Azad, Anand Sharma and Kapil Sibal gathered on one stage in Jammu on Saturday, saying the party is weakening and they have come together to strengthen it.
Moily, who had also served as chief minister of Karnataka, said the purpose of the August letter was to improve the party, for effective reformation and organisational elections at all levels.
"It's not against the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi. We are all with the leadership, we are with the Congress. We are not against them becoming President", he said.
Moily noted that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi promised to effect changes in the organisation and hold elections.
"I don't think we regret", he said when asked whether he regretted signing the August letter.
"We should not pursue (with our letter). That (G-23) is not meant to be a dissident organisation and will not be. Once the memorandum (the letter) is given, the purpose is over. It's not (correct) every day... to rake up that issue", Moily said.
Rebuilding the party is an ongoing, day-to-day process, and not a one-time activity, he pointed out.
"To that extent, the purpose (of the August letter) is served".
On the growing clamour in the party for the return of Rahul Gandhi as President, Moily said: "We also want him to come back as Soniaji is not well".
Rahul Gandhi was already active in the field, "going around the country, everywhere", he said, adding the former may return to the top position through the election process.
On some Congress leaders stating that the party is weakening, Moily said when the Congress starts winning, the BJP would look weak; it's always so.
"The Congress has the potential and inherent power to bounce back (electorally)", he added.
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AAP accuses Chadha of indulging in 'soft PR', dodging key issues in Parliament
New Delhi (PTI): The AAP on Friday hit back at party MP Raghav Chadha, accusing him of shying away from raising issues against the Centre in Parliament and instead engaging in "soft PR".
Delhi Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) President Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that Chadha failed to toe the party's line on several matters in Parliament and did not join opposition walkouts on key issues.
"We all are soldiers of Arvind Kejriwal, the Centre doesn't care about soft PR or talking about samosas at airport canteens when bigger issues are at stake," Bharadwaj said in a video posted on X.
"Whenever the Opposition staged a walkout in Parliament, you (Chadha) did not participate. You did not raise issues concerning Punjab, from where you are elected, and you hid in a foreign country when former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested," he added.
AAP national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda also criticised Chadha, questioning whether someone who "fears" Prime Minister Narendra Modi can fight for the country.
"In West Bengal, the right to vote is being snatched away. When a proposal against the CEC came up in the House, you (Chadha) refused to sign it," Dhanda said on X.
"In Parliament, we get limited time to speak, and it can be used either to fight for the nation or discuss trivial matters like cheaper samosas at airport canteens," Dhanda said, adding that Chadha has been hesitant to speak on "real issues" for the last few years.
The remarks came after Chadha earlier in the day said he was "silenced, not defeated", a day after being removed as the AAP's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha.
