Gadkari’s Afzal remark sparks bickering in BJP
BJP chief Mr Nitin Gadkari’s remarks against the Congress not only drew sharp criticism from Congress leaders but from his own party. A beleaguered BJP, which is already battling against internal crisis and desperately trying to put its house in order, was left in a dilemma after its chief’s latest controversial remark.
While speaking on the issue of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, Mr Gadkari yesterday had said that Congress was treating Guru as its son-in-law.
“Is Afzal Guru the son-in-law of Congress? Why is he being given special treatment?,” Mr Gadkari had said. His remarks drew sharp criticism from the Congress.
A majority section within the party is very upset over Mr Gadkari’s remark and is of the view that his comments had maligned party’s image.
“I still remember Gadkari ji had said in his first address to the national media after becoming BJP chief that he would take the party back to its lost glory and would expand the organisation. If this is the way he wants to bring glory to the party, BJP sure is in a real mess,” said a senior party functionary. “This party, it seems, has a tendency of attracting controversies. We had just settled the Nitish Kumar-Narendra Modi issue and now this controversial remark by our party chief,” the senior functionary added.
This section also feels that while there are number of unresolved issues in the BJP, for which Mr Gadkari had been receiving flak from within the party, he had further added to the existing crisis by making such a derogatory statement. Mr Gadkari, who had announced his team after a delay of three months in March, is yet to announce names of state incharges. Even his team members, including general secretaries and vice presidents, are awaiting portfolios to be assigned, which Mr Gadkari is yet to decide.
Meanwhile, sharply reacting to Mr Gadkari’s remarks over the delay in hanging Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, the Congress on Friday said, the BJP president had “lost his mind” and doubted whether he deserved to be president of a national political party.
When asked to comment on Mr Gadkari’s statement, AICC spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said, “This is a very disgraceful statement. The country will decide whether such language will be used in polity. Coming from the President of a national party, it is unfortunate and nobody had thought about such degradation of public life. This has once again proved that Mr Gadkari is not mature enough to be the president of a national party.”
Junking Mr Gadkari’s statement as “obscene, obnoxious and obtuse”, another party spokesperson Manish Tewari said, “It is very obvious that the esteemed president of the BJP has lost it completely. The BJP should take pity on him and put him into a psychiatric facility. The man needs serious help.”
Mr Gadkari had made remarks at a party rally in Dehradun on Thursday night that the ruling party was treating Guru as its son-in-law. “Is Afzal Guru the son-in-law of Congress? Why is he being given special treatment,” Gadkari had said.
Comments
I don't know what exactly to
keshav kashyap
10 Jul 2010 - 09:03
I don't know what exactly to say on it but Mr Gadkari, being a esteemed leader of a party, knows what exactly is good for the party. I being a strong supporter of the BJP will never tell a single word against the party and its chief and expect the same from other leaders. I will pray to God that soon the BJP regain its previous glory and stands well in elections.
I do not understand what is
MOHAN JOSHI
10 Jul 2010 - 08:53
I do not understand what is wrong in saying spade to spade. In fact the govt not acting even after Supreme Court's judgement means that this govt has no respect for the highest court of the land. Every patriotic Indian will wish that govt impliment the court ruling urgently. This govt needs harsh words for its inaction. I feel
that Gadkari is quite soft and he should have talked in even harsher words cosidering that the govt is still delaying the hanging which was due four years back. Instead of abusing Gadkari, Cong spokeperson should tell the govt to act urgently in the matter.
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