Slipping into damage control mode, the Congress on Friday evening, conducted a press conference, hours after one of its senior leaders, Jayanthi Natarajan, resigned and her letter to the party president Sonia Gandhi was publicized.
Photo: The Hindu
Refusing to accept the accusations hurled on by Natarajan through her letter, the Congress party called her move as an ‘image bachao abhiyan’, which they said was initiated by Natarajan, further calling her thoughts as “hypocritical and opportunistic.”
Senior Party leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, “Saddening that someone who got 4 terms in govt chose to release a diatribe which is untrue,” further adding, “Perhaps Natarajan wants to follow the pro-rich, pro-corporate policy of the present regime.” Singhvi told the media that Natarajan, not once told them about her concerns, verbally or written.
In her explosive letter, Jayanthi Natarajan said that she was neither told as to why she was asked to resign from the Council of Ministers, nor has she ever been asked or given an opportunity to explain, if indeed she had committed any wrongdoing. At the time of termination, in December 2013, Natarajan was the Environment Minister.
Speaking on her termination in the press conference, Singhvi asserted, “She was removed on the basis of allegations of corruption, but concrete proof wasn’t available.”
Natarajan’s letter has come in at a very crucial time, ahead of Delhi elections. The Congress took this into account and blamed that those behind the letter are also behind the time of its release. “The timing of this letter is questionable considering that Delhi polls are around the corner,” said Singhvi.
(With inputs from The Times Of India and NDTV)
Tags: Congress Jayanthi Natarajan Rahul Gandhi Sonia Gandhi
