Khurshid retracts remarks on Rahul

BJP uses episode to embarrass Cong

Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid’s reported remarks that Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi lacks “ideological direction” kicked up a controversy on Tuesday creating ripples in Congress circles and the senior leader was forced to make a clarification on the issue.

Lashing out at the media, Khurshid said his statement urging the young leadership to lead from the front must be seen in a positive context and should not be presented wrongly.

Khurshid, who was asked by the party to give clarification on his statement made in an interview to an English daily, said in view of “disappointments faced by the party” at few places he was “urging the young leadership to prepare themselves to lead from the front” and this must be seen in right context rather than negative one.

The minister further stressed that “if the media is not understanding or willing to understand the importance 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”.

Khurshid was quoted by the daily as saying that the root of the problems plaguing the Congress was the lack of “ideological direction” from its next generation leader, Rahul Gandhi.

“Until now,” he said, “we have only seen cameos of this thought and ideas like democratising elections to the Youth Congress. But he has not weaved all of this into a grand announcement. This is a period of waiting.”

Opposition gleeful

Khurshid’s reported statement provided fresh fodder to main Opposition party – BJP, which said that minister’s comments emphasise that the UPA government and Congress party are “directionless” and their future is dark.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said Rahul had created an illusion that he can do wonders, but the Congress general secretary had failed in UP, Bihar and Punjab elections.

Another BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said Khurshid’s comment on the Congress being “directionless” confirmed his party’s view.

“What is surprising is that it is coming from a senior minister of the UPA government, which is led by the Congress for the last nine years and if he says that the Congress is directionless then country is in a state of drift,” said Prasad.

“Rahul, who is projected as the leader in the future, has no clear, convergent thinking and it is being confirmed by a senior government minister,” he said.