Congress advises Arjun Singh to read Gita

NEW DELHI: After asking political opponents to read the Bhagvat Gita, Congress seems to be asking its senior leaders to do the same. At the receiving end of the advice was senior party leader and human resource development minister Arjun Singh.

Earlier in the day, the minister had gone public with his complaint against the leadership. He told a TV channel that he was ���shocked��� at the treatment being meted out to loyalists. He felt that there was no reward for loyalty in Congress. The party retorted by saying ���working for the party and believing in it was its own reward���.

Mr Singh has been upset over the denial of party tickets to his son Ajay Singh and daughter Veena Singh. The veteran Congressman said he didn���t feel slighted by the party���s decision, but was instead shocked. ���I am not slighted. Slighted is a word that somehow does not appeal to me. I am shocked by what is in store for loyalty,��� he said.

The senior minister also said that ���honour and humiliation have ceased to be concepts which Congress party these days deals with���. Responding to his charge, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said: ���The philosophy of the party has its own rewards. I believe (that) working for the party and believing in its philosophy and principles have its own rewards���.

Mr Singh had earlier said he would campaign for Congress��� official candidate in Sidhi, where his daughter is contesting as an Independent, and Satna. However, through the campaign season, the senior minister has assiduously avoided campaigning in these parliamentary constituencies, even as he campaigned in Shahdol and Khajuraho.