SHILLONG: Former Union minister Salman Khurshid has lambasted deserters in the state as well as other parts of the country saying the Congress should not take these leaders back.
Khurshid’s criticism comes a day after state minister Zenith Sangma said in an interview to The Shillong Times that those who are shifting allegiance “are spineless and nervous”.
The state Congress is set to lose a few senior leaders, like Rowell Lyngdoh and Prestone Tynsong, who are set to join NPP. It is expected that more leaders will quit the party in the run-up to the election.
Talking to media persons here on Saturday, Khurshid said those who left the Congress “got so much from the party when they were in difficult times”. He termed the ongoing exodus as “good riddance”.
Khurshid said had disenchanted leaders quit the party and withdrew themselves from politics he would have respected their decision. “Instead, they are joining parties about which they had been critical for years. It is unacceptable,” he added.
The leader pointed out that the Congress has a history of emerging stronger every time leaders left the party.
On being asked about Rahul Gandhi becoming the AICC chief, Khurshid said party members have accepted the Gandhi scion as their leader and he is among the top three leaders of the party.
“He has something in his mind and he is working towards that and when he discloses his plans, we will be there to support him,” he said.
New structure
The Congress will soon witness a “generational change” in its leadership and a new hierarchic structure will be in place before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Reacting to a query about the next Lok Sabha polls, Khurshid said the opposition at the Centre is coordinating to take on BJP and the Congress will play a major role.
“With little time, BJP may fall on its own, but we cannot take chances and they are nefarious and they will do vicious and divisive politics to mislead people,” he added.
Old wine in new bottle
Targeting the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, Khurshid said everyday a scheme is launched and many of these “are routine schemes which the Congress had initiated”.
“He (Narendra Modi) only changes the name of the scheme and the schemes are being introduced which are not thoughtful,” he said.
Castigating the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the senior leader said the intent of cleaning the country is a goof and not an inch of land, river or city has been cleaned. “The government must apply its mind on how to clean the country instead of just picking up the broom and cleaning the streets,” he added.
