<p> Taking exception to party leader Janardhan Dwivedi's praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress today hinted that disciplinary action could be taken against its senior-most general secretary.<br /><br />69-year-old Dwivedi, however, contended that he had not praised Modi and he was being misquoted.<br /><br />"What Dwivedi has said is totally opposite to the Congress' idea of Indian-ness....The victory of Modi can by no stretch be the victory of Indian-ness," Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken said at a press conference here.<br /><br />Slamming Dwivedi, who not long ago was the Chairman of the AICC Media department, Maken said that the party condemns his remarks in the strongest possible words.<br /><br />If one sees the seven-month rule of Modi as the Prime Minister and the 2002 riots in Gujarat, when he was the Chief Minister, "Modi can never become the symbol of that Indian-ness," said Maken, who is also the head of AICC Communication department.<br /><br />He said that in the last seven months of President's rule in Delhi, which saw Modi government running the show, witnessed several incidents of violence including in Trilokpuri and Bawana.<br /><br />"How can anyone be talked of as symbol of Indian-ness under whose leadership the national capital witnesses such incidents and whose Ministers speak objectionable language and not being proceeded against?" Maken said.<br /><br />Dwivedi's remarks are being lapped up by BJP leaders in the midst of the keenly contested Delhi Assembly polls and has left the Congress red-faced.<br /><br />Replying to questions, Maken made it clear that the top party leadership will soon decide on the disciplinary action against Dwivedi.<br /><br />Later Dwivedi, however, contended that he never praised Modi. "I have never said Modi is a symbol of Indian-ness," he said.</p>.<p>Asked whether Dwivedi's remarks were indicative of friction with the party's leadership, Maken said the remarks are not against any individual but against Congress' ideology.<br /><br />"It is totally different from the ideology, stand and thinking of the Congress party. It is totally opposite the thinking of the Congress party," he said.<br /><br />Maken evaded questions whether the party had sought prior clarification from Dwivedi before condemning his remarks and hinting that action will be taken against him.<br /><br />Indicating that he has been talking to the media following green signal from the top, Maken, who is known to be close to party vice president Rahul Gandhi, said "Whatever I am saying is in my capacity as general secretary in charge of the communications department."<br /><br />Seeking to rebut Dwivedi, he quoted profusely from Indira Gandhi's address at Kashi Vidyapeeth in January, 1970 on 'bharatiyata' or Indian-ness.<br /><br />He recalled that the late prime minister had said, "to me Indian-ness implies a positive duty to understand and honour other points of view in consonance with the injunction that the ways to truth are many."<br /><br />Gandhi had also said "on the banks of the Ganga thousands of years ago, our sages proclaimed that the world is one family."<br /><br />Addressing the media separately, soon after the AICC briefing, Dwivedi suggested that he was a victim of improper understanding of what he had said and the intention behind his remarks. <br /><br />Dwivedi ducked questions on whether he sees a conspiracy behind what has been reported against him and if he had given any explanation to the leadership. "You know I never talk about internal party matters."<br /><br />Asserting that he has been grossly misquoted, the senior Congress leader, who was also a professor, said that in his first book itself he had written that Mahatma Gandhi, Prem Chand, Ram Manohar Lohia, Suryakant Nirala, and Pandit Nehru symbolised Indian-ness.<br /><br />He said with its noble tradition and it leading the struggle for freedom, Congress has remained a symbol of Indian-ness.<br /><br />Asked whether Sonia Gandhi epitomises Indian-ness, he replied in the affirmative saying that the Congress president represents the party.<br /><br />He sidestepped a question on whether he would continue in the post in the light of the party condemning his remarks.<br /><br />Dwivedi said that what he had stated in an "objective" analysis was that the election results of 2014 was not the victory of Modi or BJP but defeat of Congress.<br /><br />He had reportedly said that Modi and BJP succeeded in projecting that they were closer to the Indian people and presented their victory as that of Indian-ness. "The voters felt like that".<br /><br />The Congress leader said that BJP's victory has ushered in a new time which has brought forth a very big challenge for Congress and there is no scope for any misunderstanding over the issue.<br /><br />As Dwivedi's interview created speculation over his future course of action, he made it clear that "people like him do not change their thought and loyalties. If such a time comes, I will keep away from partisan politics. </p>
<p> Taking exception to party leader Janardhan Dwivedi's praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress today hinted that disciplinary action could be taken against its senior-most general secretary.<br /><br />69-year-old Dwivedi, however, contended that he had not praised Modi and he was being misquoted.<br /><br />"What Dwivedi has said is totally opposite to the Congress' idea of Indian-ness....The victory of Modi can by no stretch be the victory of Indian-ness," Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken said at a press conference here.<br /><br />Slamming Dwivedi, who not long ago was the Chairman of the AICC Media department, Maken said that the party condemns his remarks in the strongest possible words.<br /><br />If one sees the seven-month rule of Modi as the Prime Minister and the 2002 riots in Gujarat, when he was the Chief Minister, "Modi can never become the symbol of that Indian-ness," said Maken, who is also the head of AICC Communication department.<br /><br />He said that in the last seven months of President's rule in Delhi, which saw Modi government running the show, witnessed several incidents of violence including in Trilokpuri and Bawana.<br /><br />"How can anyone be talked of as symbol of Indian-ness under whose leadership the national capital witnesses such incidents and whose Ministers speak objectionable language and not being proceeded against?" Maken said.<br /><br />Dwivedi's remarks are being lapped up by BJP leaders in the midst of the keenly contested Delhi Assembly polls and has left the Congress red-faced.<br /><br />Replying to questions, Maken made it clear that the top party leadership will soon decide on the disciplinary action against Dwivedi.<br /><br />Later Dwivedi, however, contended that he never praised Modi. "I have never said Modi is a symbol of Indian-ness," he said.</p>.<p>Asked whether Dwivedi's remarks were indicative of friction with the party's leadership, Maken said the remarks are not against any individual but against Congress' ideology.<br /><br />"It is totally different from the ideology, stand and thinking of the Congress party. It is totally opposite the thinking of the Congress party," he said.<br /><br />Maken evaded questions whether the party had sought prior clarification from Dwivedi before condemning his remarks and hinting that action will be taken against him.<br /><br />Indicating that he has been talking to the media following green signal from the top, Maken, who is known to be close to party vice president Rahul Gandhi, said "Whatever I am saying is in my capacity as general secretary in charge of the communications department."<br /><br />Seeking to rebut Dwivedi, he quoted profusely from Indira Gandhi's address at Kashi Vidyapeeth in January, 1970 on 'bharatiyata' or Indian-ness.<br /><br />He recalled that the late prime minister had said, "to me Indian-ness implies a positive duty to understand and honour other points of view in consonance with the injunction that the ways to truth are many."<br /><br />Gandhi had also said "on the banks of the Ganga thousands of years ago, our sages proclaimed that the world is one family."<br /><br />Addressing the media separately, soon after the AICC briefing, Dwivedi suggested that he was a victim of improper understanding of what he had said and the intention behind his remarks. <br /><br />Dwivedi ducked questions on whether he sees a conspiracy behind what has been reported against him and if he had given any explanation to the leadership. "You know I never talk about internal party matters."<br /><br />Asserting that he has been grossly misquoted, the senior Congress leader, who was also a professor, said that in his first book itself he had written that Mahatma Gandhi, Prem Chand, Ram Manohar Lohia, Suryakant Nirala, and Pandit Nehru symbolised Indian-ness.<br /><br />He said with its noble tradition and it leading the struggle for freedom, Congress has remained a symbol of Indian-ness.<br /><br />Asked whether Sonia Gandhi epitomises Indian-ness, he replied in the affirmative saying that the Congress president represents the party.<br /><br />He sidestepped a question on whether he would continue in the post in the light of the party condemning his remarks.<br /><br />Dwivedi said that what he had stated in an "objective" analysis was that the election results of 2014 was not the victory of Modi or BJP but defeat of Congress.<br /><br />He had reportedly said that Modi and BJP succeeded in projecting that they were closer to the Indian people and presented their victory as that of Indian-ness. "The voters felt like that".<br /><br />The Congress leader said that BJP's victory has ushered in a new time which has brought forth a very big challenge for Congress and there is no scope for any misunderstanding over the issue.<br /><br />As Dwivedi's interview created speculation over his future course of action, he made it clear that "people like him do not change their thought and loyalties. If such a time comes, I will keep away from partisan politics. </p>