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Congress: avoid uncalled-for comments

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday declared the Ramar Sethu issue a “closed” chapter, and asked all its members – both within and outside the government – to avoid “uncalled-for comments” as airing such views in public generates “unnecessary and avoidable confusion.”

The directive was disclosed here by party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi. While the statement makes a specific reference to the Ramar Sethu issue, Mr. Dwivedi said: “The Indian National Congress believes that maintenance of discipline by its members in the party or in the Government is of utmost importance.”

Pointing out that the Congress is “a vast, democratic movement with ample intra-party scope for conveying a wide spectrum of opinions and views which are listened to, absorbed and — where necessary — acted upon,” the missive is that “airing such views in public generates unnecessary and avoidable confusion.”

In the specific context of the Ramar Sethu issue, the Congress leadership’s direction is that “in view of the prompt withdrawal of the affidavit, reflecting the party’s and the government’s alacrity and sensitivity on matters of personal belief and faith, the matter should be treated as closed and uncalled-for comments be avoided.”

The Congress is hopeful of putting an immediate stop to the varying opinions that have been aired by party leaders through the media about Union Culture Minister Ambika Soni’s handling of the Ramar Sethu affidavit in the Supreme Court as a result of which the government had to face a lot of flak.

On Monday, a similar message had gone out to the entire party set-up through the media to make it known that the high command was not happy with the turn of events. Mr. Dwivedi said the statement was issued to ensure that the message percolates right down to the last worker. A directive such as this makes it a matter of record.

Ms. Soni met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the morning for 45 minutes and placed all the relevant facts and documents before him. Speaking to mediapersons later, she said: “The Prime Minister gave me a good hearing and I am very satisfied with the meeting.”

As to whether she was hurt by the criticism from colleagues in the party, the Minister said: “I don’t think the word hurt should exist in political parlance. I have tried to work honestly and according to the rules. I am learning that this is not enough; you have to have something more.”

With the Congress statement coming hours after Ms. Soni’s remark that honesty and following the rulebook was not enough, there was much speculation in the party headquarters on whether it was directed at her.

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