The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sonia to settle PCC dispute

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 15, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sonia to settle PCC dispute

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 14. The matter pertaining to the suspension of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee treasurer, Dinesh Gupta, has now been referred to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, and the AICC leader in-charge Delhi, Ahmed Patel, for a final settlement.

Party insiders informed that the AICC has made it clear that the DPCC was not competent to take action against the appointments approved by the Congress president and any development on this front has to be referred to her before any action was taken. It is learnt that both the AICC secretary, Anil Shastri, and Mr. Patel were not happy with the unilateral manner in which the DPCC president, Chaudhary Prem Singh, has handled the affair. Interestingly, Mr. Gupta was one of the favourites of Mr. Prem Singh and it was only after Mr.Gupta wrote to Ms. Gandhi about the alleged financial irregularities in DPCC that he was placed under suspension.

Sources said the AICC was upset that it was not consulted on such an important matter. "It is very clearly laid out that PCC cannot take action against those appointments that have the approval of AICC or the Congress president,'' a senior party leader stated. Mr. Singh had informed both Mr. Patel and Mr. Shastri about the suspension and recommended his expulsion from the party. "How can he recommend the expulsion of Mr. Gupta when the suspension has still not been approved by the party high command? The file has been sent to the Congress president and she will take a decision. Nothing is expected to happen before the reshuffle of the AICC which is expected anytime,'' another party leader added.

The whole issue including nomination of candidate for the post of the Speaker is likely to come up for discussion when a meeting to discuss the Delhi affairs is convened. The last date for filing of nomination papers for the post of the Speaker of Delhi Assembly is July 19 and the party will have to finalise its candidate by this weekend.

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