Sign in

After Azad praises PM Modi and slams Congress, Jairam Ramesh hits back

Ghulam Nabi Azad, who quit the Congress party last week, on Monday lashed out at his former group saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi is only an “excuse” but they have had an issue with him since the G-23 letter was written.

Updated on: Aug 29, 2022, 19:31:57 IST
By | Edited by , New Delhi
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

Congress veteran and MP Jairam Ramesh on Monday hit back at his former colleague Ghulam Nabi Azad after he continued attacks on the grand-old party, and showered compliments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taking to Twitter, Ramesh said by “giving interviews indiscriminately” with the task to “slander” the party with which he had a long career, Azad has “diminished himself further”.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. (ANI Photo) (Amit Sharma)
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. (ANI Photo) (Amit Sharma)

“After such a long career, courtesy entirely of the party he has been tasked to slander, by giving interviews indiscriminately, Mr. Azad diminishes himself further,” Ramesh tweeted in Hindi.

He asked Azad "what is he afraid of that he's justifying his treachery every minute?". “He can be easily exposed but why stoop to this level?” Ramesh tweeted. The official Twitter handle of the Congress later posted the same statement in English.

Ramesh's statements come only hours after Azad told reporters that Modi is just an “excuse” and that the grand-old party actually have had an issue with him since the G-23 letter was written. “They never wanted anyone to write to them, question them... Several (Congress) meetings happened, but not even a single suggestion was taken,” Azad said.

He also praised the prime minister for showing humanity, while recalling an incident when both he and Modi were chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat, respectively.

Also Read | 'Pray for his long life...': Ghulam Nabi Azad on Rahul Gandhi

Azad said Modi had dialled him up multiple times after hearing and seeing him on TV visuals crying following a grenade explosion inside a bus in Jammu and Kashmir that led to several casualties. The former Congress leader said he used to think the prime minister was a “crude man” but he did show “humanity”.

Azad resigned from all posts in Congress last week and sent a five-page resignation letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi wherein he made a scathing attack on her son and MP Rahul Gandhi. He called Rahul “immature” and blamed him for destroying the “consultative mechanism” of the party besides sidelining senior leaders who gave all their lives to the group.

  • Sharangee Dutta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Sharangee Dutta

    A journalist with 7+ years of experience, I pretty much inhale and exhale news – figuratively speaking. Cooking, reading and playing with my dog take up the remaining hours of my normal day. I have an inclination for true crime stories, and love listening to such podcasts.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.