On reforms, Sibal says leadership has to listen

Senior Congress leader says the issues raised were not addressed

Tremors continue to rock the Congress with the “Group of 23” reminding the high command to pay heed to party workers and functionaries. Former Union minister and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal sent out a message to party top bosses that it is time for them to listen to the issues that were raised by the G-23.

Sibal emphatically claimed that he would never join BJP, declaring

● THE LAST one year has been disastrous for the Congress and its leadership. Several top and upcoming leaders have openly questioned the functioning of the party. Inspite of the demand for internal elections nothing has moved forward.

“over my dead body”, he disapproved of Jitin Prasada leaving the party and said that it is “Prasada Ram politics based on personal gain”.

Sibal said the Congress desperately needs reforms and the party leadership has to listen. At the same time, it was inexplicable, he said, that a person like Prasada would join the BJP. He said , “I don’t want to comment on what the party leadership has done or not done. We have reached a stage in Indian politics where decisions of this nature are not based on ideology at all. They are based on what I now call ‘Prasada Ram politics’”.

Giving a message to the party he added, “Issues were not addressed, that is true. They must be addressed as quickly as possible. We will continue to raise those issues. If the party for some reason tells me we don’t need you, I will leave it. I am not in it for myself, but I will never in my life over my dead body join the BJP who I have opposed since my birth as a politician. That’s my issue with Jitin Prasada.”

The last one year has been disastrous for the Congress and its leadership. Several top and upcoming leaders have openly questioned the functioning of the party.

Inspite of the demand for internal elections nothing has moved forward. In the recently concluded Assembly elections the party fared poorly and till now there has been no fixing of responsibility over these debacles.

Desertions in the party at all levels are going on thick and fast. If these issues are not addressed soon the Congress will cede even more space to the BJP in the coming days.