Only AICC can question me, Karti Chidambaram tells Tamil Nadu Congress Committee

CHENNAI: Turning the tables on Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President EVKS Elangovan, who slapped a showcause notice on him, Karti Chidambaram today refused to give him an explanation and said only the All India Congress Committee's Disciplinary Committee was competent to seek it.

Karti, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, was issued the notice on January 23 for alleged remarks against the party and its high command at a meeting of his supporters, collectively named 'G-67', a reference to those born after 1967, the year in which Congress lost power in Tamil Nadu.

In his speech at the meeting on January 22, while dissecting the electoral travails of Congress, Karti had appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "political knowledge and acumen" in steering the party to success.

In the notice, Elangovan had said Karti had criticised the party high command and thus 'put spokes' in the growth of Congress and sought explanation in a week. He had also said Karti would be expelled if he did not reply.

Responding to the notice, Karti said, "I am a member of the All India Congress Committee. Only the Disciplinary Committee of the AICC is the competent authority to take disciplinary action or seek explanation from me."

"I would like to tell you that I am ready to give explanation to the AICC disciplinary panel if you direct the allegations against me to them."

Karti, also an executive committee member of the state Congress, said if Elangovan had understood the substance of his speech it would have been "crystal clear" that he "neither criticised the party nor its ideals and there was nothing to seek or make explanation."

He clarified that he did not use Congress party's flag, symbol or any other identity in the meeting and added that it was a private luncheon meet with his supporters to which the media was not invited. "Hence, there is no chance for you to have come across my speech through media."