New Delhi: Launching a sharp attack on the Congress leadership, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday asked whether it would remain a party "crowding around a family".
Taking a dig at the dynasty-driven Congress, Jaitley said the party will shrink in absence of stalwarts like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi as it does not have leaders of that stature.
"Congress has to decide what is its journey ahead. Will it remain a dynastic democracy or will there be merit-based leadership?
"No political party can survive in such a big country by crowding around a family. They have to decide whether they want to be a structured political party or a party crowding around a family," Jaitley said at a conclave of TV newschannel .
He saw the party shrinking because of weak leadership of the dynasty.
Fielding a poser that there are examples of father-son duo in the BJP too, he spoke about a fundamental difference. “Two persons from the same family enter politics… One big national party is being owned by one family. It’s like proprietorship business and the authority to become Prime Minister belongs to that family only. This is the fundamental difference.”
He saw the party shrinking because of weak leadership of the dynasty.
Fielding a poser that there are examples of father-son duo in the BJP too, he spoke about a fundamental difference. “Two persons from the same family enter politics… One big national party is being owned by one family. It’s like proprietorship business and the authority to become Prime Minister belongs to that family only. This is the fundamental difference.”
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/congress-sufferi...
He saw the party shrinking because of weak leadership of the dynasty.
Fielding a poser that there are examples of father-son duo in the BJP too, he spoke about a fundamental difference. “Two persons from the same family enter politics… One big national party is being owned by one family. It’s like proprietorship business and the authority to become Prime Minister belongs to that family only. This is the fundamental difference.”
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/congress-sufferi...
In a separate interaction at the conclave, AICC general secretary Digvijiay Singh targetted Jaitley over his remarks wondering whether it is the senior BJP leader who will decide who will become the President of Congress.
Digvijaya also hinted that the criticism of the Gandhi family was coming from the Sangh and followers of its ideology, who have historically hated the family. "Do you expect them to praise the Gandhi family? The Gandhi family has lost two of its prime ministers in their fight against terrorism. They are inherently opposed: the Sangh elements hate the Nehru-Gandhi family, not from today. Can't you see the kind of filthy rubbish they write about Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi? This is their character and culture," he said.
"The fact remains that it is only the Congress party that keeps the country together. It is the only thread by which the country can be bound, cutting across caste, communities and religion," he added.
"Will Jaitley decide who will become Congress President? Is any body prevented from contesting when the election for Congress President happens? Jitendra Prasad had fought the election for party chief against Soniaji.
"Organisational elections are going to happen in Congress. If there are some leaders in contact with Jaitleyji, he should tell them to fight the election," Singh said.
Prasad had fought Congress Party's presidential election against Sonia Gandhi on 9 November 2000 and was defeated.
On whether Priyanka Gandhi should be brought to revive Congress and whether she is assuming any such role, he said "Priyankaji has an unprecedented charishma. She has a style. She is articulate. She has resemblance with Indiraji. If she comes, we will welcome."
He said, it is for the family to decide on these matters.
Earlier speaking on GST BILL issue, Jaitley said the government will make all attempts to take Congress onboard but if it does not happen, it would prefer a vote in Parliament on the issue in the next session of Parliament.
He also claimed that all the friends of Congress including Left, JD(U), SP, RJD, BSP and Trinamool Congress are in support of GST.
"All Congress Chief Ministers back GST. 100 per cent Congress-ruled states are with us and not their central leadership on GST. The stand of Congress central leadership on the issue is political," the Finance Minister said.
(PTI inputs)
