Congress leaders Azad, Anand Sharma under fire for 'undermining' party

While Congress workers set posters of Azad afire in Jammu, senior leaders slammed Sharma for his remarks questioning the party’s pre-poll alliance in West Bengal

Congress dissenters Anand Sharma and Ghulam Nabi Azad came under fire from party leaders who accused them of "undermining" the party "in tune with the agenda" of the BJP.

While Congress workers set posters of Azad on fire in Jammu, senior leaders slammed Sharma for his remarks questioning the party’s pre-poll alliance in West Bengal.

"I would urge a select group of distinguished Congressmen to rise above always seeking personal comfort spots and stop wasting time singing praises of the PM," said West Bengal Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

While party leaders refrained from going public with their comments, most said they shared the sentiments voiced by Chowdhury, who is also the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha.

AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told the media in Guwahati that Chowdhury had already responded to “certain comments” made on Monday and she would not add to it.

Read: Rift within Congress ahead of West Bengal elections as Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury slams Anand Sharma

Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said like Azad and Sharma, the party workers and leaders too enjoy the freedom of speech, virtually endorsing the comments made against the dissenters and the actions of burning of Azad’s effigies in Jammu.

“Those who are committed to fighting against BJP parties venomous communalism should support the Congress and campaign for the party in five states rather than attempting to undermine the party by remarks in tune with BJP’s agenda,” Chowdhury said.

Sharma, the Deputy Leader of the Congress in Rajya Sabha, rebuffed accusations of helping the BJP and reiterated his firm commitment to Congress.

“I am also one of the historians and ideologue of the party and it has to be taken in that context,” he said of his comments questioning the alliance in West Bengal.

Read: Saddening to see leaders like Azad being 'castigated' by Congress: BJP

The BJP took a swipe at the Congress saying its ideology was all about fulfilling the Gandhi family’s ambition’ and anyone speaking against it or standing with the ‘rightful’ agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was castigated.

BJP spokesman Sambit Patra hit out at the Congress over its alliances in various states, saying they are solely aimed at keeping the Gandhi family and the party relevant. “The Congress has tied up with a “maulana’s” party and the Left in West Bengal, while its fighting the Left in Kerala,” he said noting that Congress was in an alliance with AIUDF in Assam and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.