New Delhi: Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill on Wednesday became the third partyman to quit a post in recent times when he put in his papers as national spokesperson, saying “decision-making in the party was no longer in the interests of the public and the country”.
In his resignation letter to the party’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi, Shergill said the decision-making was today “influenced by the self-serving interests of individuals indulging in sycophancy and consistently ignoring on-ground reality”.
A lawyer by profession and among the party’s upcoming young leaders, Shergill also said the “ideology and vision of the current decision makers of the Indian National Congress is no longer in sync with the aspirations of the youth and modern India”.
“I have been seeking time from Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for more than a year, but we are not welcome in the office,” Shergill told the media.
The leader, who has resigned from all posts, further said: “In the past eight years, I have not taken anything from the Congress but only poured into the party. Today, I am being pushed to bow down before people because they’re close to the top leadership. This isn’t acceptable to me.”
Last Tuesday, Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned from the post of chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress campaign committee, hours after his appointment.
The development came after Sonia Gandhi appointed Vikar Rasool Wani as the party’s J-K unit president. The post was previously held by Ghulam Ahmed Mir — a close aide of Azad – who resigned in July.
On Sunday, senior leader Anand Sharma resigned from the chairmanship of the party’s steering committee for Himachal Pradesh –- months before state elections. Jammu and Kashmir are also looking at elections soon.
Anand Sharma later tweeted: “I have resigned with a heavy heart from the Chairmanship of the Steering Committee of the Congress for the Himachal Elections. Reiterating that I am a lifelong Congressman and remain firm on my convictions.”
He added: “Committed to Congress ideology that runs in my blood, let there be no doubts about this! However, given the continuing exclusion and insults, as a self-respecting person — I was left with no choice.”
On Wednesday, Sharma said it was important for the Nehru-Gandhi family to be integral to the party. “We elected Rahul Gandhi as Congress president in 2018, but it was he who resigned, we did not ask him. Congress requires inclusive and collective-thinking and approach,” he said.
Sharma also said if the party brought in “some internal changes”, its renewal and revival would be done.
“Congress cannot revive by having an A group or a B group. Congress collectively has to revive,” he said, adding, “I will campaign for the party wherever it is required. Congress needs to come out of factionalism and stay united. We are all Congressmen. What is important is that the Congress party stays strong.”
Both Azad and Sharma are members of the G-23, a group of veteran leaders who had written to Sonia Gandhi in August 2020, expressing their dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership and lack of organisation.
Also Read: Hours after becoming chairman of J-K poll committee, Ghulam Nabi Azad quits citing ill health