Hyderabad, february 02: 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.
–Agencies