Cong hits back: Atal wasn’t CM
In a counter offensive to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s remarks on Rahul Gandhi, the Congress on Monday reminded the JD(U) leader that he was a Union minister under Atal Behari Vajpayee, who had never been the chief minister before becoming the Prime Minister of the country.
While attacking the AICC general secretary for his allegations of corruption in implementation of development schemes in Bihar, Mr Kumar had said, “I have a simple advice for Rahul Gandhi. Instead of giving lectures on development in Bihar, he should first become a chief minister to learn what governance is all about before aspiring to be Prime Minister.”
Not taking Mr Kumar’s comment on the Congress leader, AICC spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said, “The JD(U) leader should remember that he had the longest stint in the Union Cabinet during Atal Behari Vajpayee’s tenure. By making such a comment on our leader, he actually is making mockery and casting aspersion on his own leader (Mr Vajpayee), who had never been the chief minister before becoming the Prime Minister.” He wondered, if Mr Kumar was questioning the competence of Mr Vajpayee.
Mr Ahmed said that he would also like to remind the Bihar chief minister that at least four most successful Congress Prime Ministers had also never been the chief ministers of any state. “Pt. Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, India Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi never became chief ministers of any state,” he added.
When asked why he had been excluding Dr Manmohan Singh from the list of successful Congress Prime Ministers, who also never became chief minister of any state, the AICC spokesperson said, he was only referring to former leaders, who took up the top job.
“Manmohan Singhji is still in office and we are proud of his leadership...We wish he continues in office for a long time,” he added.
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