Jammu & Kashmir: After controversy emerged from Rahul Gandhi's north-south remark, Congress leaders amalgamated to decipher that the party stands for unity and equality, whilst showing their dissent over the functioning of the party on Friday.
In a recently held event at Jammu and Kashmir organized by The Gandhi Global Family, a group of 23 Congress leaders asserted that 'Congress has weakened' and that they will strengthen, build and unite the party.
Some of the prominent leaders among the 23 are J&K's only Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad retiring, Kapil Sibbal, Raj Babbar, Manish Tewari, Anand Sharma, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Vivek Tankha, and Akhilesh Prasad Singh.
The G-23 leaders are on a three-day visit to Jammu to decide the future course of action and hold several party meetings. It needs to be mentioned here that the party has set a June 21 deadline for electing a new Congress chief.
The leaders have further written to party high command Sonia Gandhi expressing their dissent over the functioning of the party and further emphasized the need to connect with the new generation. The leader also lamented the loss of Azad from the upper house of the Parliament.
Expressing concern over the loss of statehood of J&K, Azad said that whether it is J&K or Ladakh, "we respect all religions, people and castes. We equally respect everyone, that is our strength and we will continue with this."
With an idea of strengthening the party, Raj Babbar said, "People say we are a part of G-23; for me, it's Gandhi 23. With the belief, resolve and thinking of Mahatma Gandhi, this nation's law and Constitution was formed. Congress is standing strongly to take these forward. 'G-23' want Congress to be strong."
Kapil Sibal lamenting the retirement of Azad said that the party should have used the experience of Azad in further strengthening the party.
The event has been organised days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "North-South" remark, which has led to a controversy. Gandhi who was recently in Thiruvananthapuram said, "For the first 15 years, I was an MP in the north. I had got used to a different type of politics. For me, coming to Kerala was very refreshing as suddenly I found that people are interested in issues and not just superficially but going into detail in issues."
Taking a dig at Gandhi's remark the BJP said that the Congress leader was anti-north Indian and accused him of differentiating the country's atmosphere, despite the Gandhi family winning several elections from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
The 23 leaders showed their discontent last year as well over the functioning of the Congress in a written letter wherein it has sought 'structural changes' and internal election to the CWC even at state levels.
Also Watch: Bicycle Distribution Ceremony at Digboi