Congress disapproves of remarks by Digvijay Singh, Janardan Dwivedi

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leaders Digvijay Singh and Janardan Dwivedi were today under fire from the AICC over their remarks concerning Rahul Gandhi and advocating that elder leaders take a backseat in favour of the young.

"It is not a good thing," party general secretary Madhusudan Mistry told reporters, questioning the two leaders issuing statements to the media on the issues when the Congress chief and vice president are "easily accessible" to them.

The AICC briefing also saw spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi dubbing as "not appropriate" the statements of Singh.

Digvijay Singh had remarked that Rahul Gandhi's silence on critical issues had contributed to their loss in the "war of perception". He had said the party vice-president should be "more visible and heard more" to bring the Congress back on the path of revival.

The AICC has already distanced the party from Dwivedi's remarks that leaders of 65 to 70 years of age should not take up active posts in the organisation.

Singhvi also did not take kindly to the remarks of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan that Rahul Gandhi's reluctance to join the Union Cabinet cost the party.

He wondered as to what was new as the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had time and again requested Gandhi to become a Minister. "It is an old and known view".

The remarks of Mistry, who is considered close to the Congress Vice President as well as Singhvi, show disapproval by the leadership of the remarks by Singh and Dwivedi, who have been senior general secretaries in the party.

Responding to a volley of questions over Digvijay Singh's remarks, Singhvi said, "This may be his personal view. But this is certainly not the time to advise each other through the media rather than focussing on strengthening the party by working collectively.... It is not appropriate".

Echoing a similar view, Mistry questioned Singh and Dwivedi for their going to the press over internal party matters.