Opposition flays Congress over Khurshid's reported remarks

NEW DELHI: Using Law Minister Salman Khurshid's reported remarks, Opposition today attacked Congress saying this confirms the ruling party and the government are directionless but the minister clarified that his comments were misinterpreted and seen in a negative light.

Amid displeasure in party circles over his comments, Khurshid later said he felt there was no scope for any objection or controversy on what he stated and it should be read in a positive context. Party sources maintained that Khurshid had been asked to clarify his remarks.

"If the media is not understanding or willing to understand the import of what I said, then it is better that these things are discussed within the party forum. I never said that the party is directionless and if I am saying this then I am blaming myself," he said.

Notwithstanding the clarification by Khurshid, his reported statement to a newspaper that people had only seen cameos of Rahul Gandhi's ideas and the root of the problems plaguing Congress was lack of "ideological direction" from the party General Secretary, served as fresh ammunition for the Opposition.

BJP Chief Spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "As the leader of the future he (Gandhi) has no clear coherent thinking is being confirmed by a senior government minister, then I can only say good luck to Congress."

He claimed that if a senior UPA minister is confirming that Congress is "directionless" then this is also a comment on the functioning of party chief Sonia Gandhi.

Samajwadi Party, which is supporting the government from outside, took the opportunity to hit out at Rahul Gandhi.

"It is very clear from the very beginning that Rahul may want to become Prime Minister but he is not the leadership material. He does not have the ideological moorings like Indira and Rajiv Gandhi. He does not have ideological focus," SP leader Shahid Siddique said.