Saturday, April 26, 2025

Cong dismisses Baru’s book as cheap fiction

Date:

Share post:

New Delhi: Congress on Saturday dismissed as “cheap fiction” the claims made in a book written by Sanjaya Baru, former media advisor to PM, that Sonia Gandhi was the remote control in UPA Government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh played a second fiddle to her.

The party also questioned the timing for the release of the book in the midst of the Lok Sabha polls.

“They (BJP) remain remote controlled from Nagpur (RSS headquarters). In UPA, it was the first ideal division of labour, perfect harmonious work for 10 long years,” Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.

Hitting out at Baru, he accused the former media advisor of “betrayal, greed, ambition and sensationalism” and dismissed his book as a “work of fiction and gossip and is not even good fiction either.”

Insisting that the document was most subjective as it is based on personal opinion and not on facts, Singhvi said the jacket cover of the book itself says “it is packed with political gossip” that is what it is.

Singhvi lashed out at BJP for making political capital out of the book, saying it was “hard to digest” for the opposition party that the UPA coalition continued for two full terms despite its doomsday projections.

BJP has used the book to target Congress, saying it has proven true its charge of dual power centre involving Gandhi and Singh in which she had the final word.

The Congress spokesman also more than suggested that Baru was in touch with several BJP leaders in the last few years about which he has not written a word in the book.

He especially faulted Baru for the “fantastic” timing for the release of the book in the midst of Lok Sabha polls.

“The timing is fantastic. You are recording the history of four years after six years, bang in the middle of polls. The timing can only be attributed to political motives.

“Greed, commercial profit, betrayal, ambition and sensationalism all coalesced into a very very unsavoury cocktail,” Singhvi said.

Another Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala, speaking separately, said “Baru’s current proximity to a strategist of Narendra Modi is well known. Timing of his allegations establish whose political agenda he is seeking to serve”.

“Congress decisively rejects this cheap fiction lock, stock and barrel,” he said.

Singhvi brushed aside a question whether Congress plans to launch a case against Baru, saying “I am not going to do legal hair-splitting.”

“It is a far larger issue of faith, confidence, morality and ethics,” he said.

Replying to a question, Singhvi said, “There have been officers like the former Union Home Secretary (R K Singh) who turned viciously on their bosses soon after retirement.” (PTI)

Related articles

Govt issues advisory on media reporting of defence operations

New Delhi, April 26: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday issued an advisory directing all media...

Pakistan open for ‘neutral, transparent and credible investigation’ into Pahalgam terror attack: PM Shehbaz Sharif

Islamabad, April 26: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressed the country's readiness to participate in any...

Sleep well, avoid junk food to keep your liver healthy

New Delhi, April 26: Having a good night's sleep and avoiding junk food is essential to keep the...

Over two lakh people, top world leaders attend funeral ceremony of Pope Francis at Vatican

Vatican City, April 26: The funeral mass ceremony of Pope Francis, that began Saturday afternoon, India time, in...