Sonia Gandhi refers Shashi Tharoor issue to AICC Disciplinary Panel

NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi has referred Kerala PCC’s demand for “appropriate action” against party MP Shashi Tharoor, for his “pro-Modi stands”, to the AICC disciplinary action committee headed by AK Antony. Senior Congress leaders Motilal Vohra and Sushil Kumar Shinde are the other members of the panel.

The AICC panel has straightway started processing the charge against Tharoor with Antony holding talks with Vora in New Delhi on Friday.

Shinde, who is campaigning in Maharashtra, is also learnt to have been apprised of Gandhi’s decision to refer the PCC demand against Tharoor to the panel.

As per the organisational norms, the AICC disciplinary committee will serve a show-cause-notice to the accused to give the person an opportunity to offer an explanation or an apology whichever may be the case.

A source said the AICC panel could respond to the PCC’s demand for action against Tharoor after the completion of elections in Maharashtra and Haryana. The PCC has been demanding that Tharoor withdraw himself as a brand ambassador of Narendra Modi-initiated Swachh Bharat plan and apologise for his recent “pro-Modi remarks” or he be removed as AICC spokesperson and placed under suspension.