New Delhi/Hyderabad: Taking strong
exception to comments by senior party leader from Andhra
Pradesh G Venkataswamy against Sonia Gandhi, Congress on Wednesday
said he has "lost his mental balance"" and that "appropriate
action" will be taken against him.
"He seems to have lost his mental balance," Congress
spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters adding,
"appropriate action will be taken against him at the
appropriate time".
Venkataswamy`s "viciousness" in attacking Gandhi and
his "arrogance" certainly warrants action, Union Minister M
Veerappa Moily, who is in charge of party affairs in Andhra
Pradesh, said.
Replying to questions, Moily, however, did not specify
the form of disciplinary action against the 82-year-old former
Deputy Leader of the party in the Lok Sabha.
Congress sources have said that the party chief has
the power to summarily expel even a CWC member for anti-party
activities.
"We have taken serious note of his arrogance, vicious
attitude and such actions definitely warrants action," Moily
told PTI.
Asked about the type of action he was referring to, he
merely said: "Wait and see."
Moily said Congress has given everything to
Venkataswamy and his family. "It is really shocking how he is
repaying his gratitude to the party which has endowed him the
highest benefits. He is highly ungrateful to a party which
nurtured him as a mother...(his remarks) are absolutely
absurd, irresponsible, insensitive and grossly violative of
the norms and standards of discipline on the Indian National
Congress," he said.
On his part, Veknataswamy who appeared to have
mellowed down, said in Hyderabad that he was ready to withdraw
all his comments.
"I had to make those comments because I was worried
that the party may suffer in the Telangana region. I am ready
to withdraw all comments...I request her (Gandhi) for a
separate Telangana," he said.
He went on to say, "If I am expelled, party workers
in Telangana would form a new outfit called Telangana
Congress."
The Law Minister said he spoke with Venkataswamy this
morning with regard to the veracity of his statement.
"He said he has indeed made such a statement,` Moily
said.
Venkataswamy, a Telangana leader, had demanded that he
Italy-born Gandhi step down as party chief and make way for an
"Indian".
In a no-holds-barred attack on Congress leadership,
Venkataswamy alleged corruption has grown and that the nation
and party were suffering from various ills. He also criticised
the party over moves to tie up with Praja Rajyam Party headed
by actor Chiranjeevi.
Congress sources said Venkataswamy`s attack needed to
be seen in the light of the fact that he was soon going to be
out of the CWC which Gandhi is reconstituting.
PTI
