Claiming that the “media has misquoted him”, former Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Jagmeet Brar has submitted his reply to a showcause notice to Shakeel Ahmad, general secretary, All India Congress Committee (AICC), and in-charge, Punjab affairs.
Instead of sending a direct reply to Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa, who had issued the notice to Brar, the latter addressed his reply to Ahmad, but marked a copy to the PPCC office. Confirming that he had received the reply via email, Ahmad told Hindustan Times, “Brar telephonically informed me that he had submitted his reply. Now I will examine it and send a report to the party high command for further pursuing matter.”
On being asked about Brar’s reply, the AICC general secretary said he had yet to read the email.
“But as per our telephonic conversation, Brar has said that he was misquoted by the media. He has told me what exactly he said,” Ahmad added, speaking to HT on the phone from Haryana.
Brar had been quoted as saying by the media that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should take two years’ leave from the Congress, but he denied making such a statement.
{{/usCountry}}Brar had been quoted as saying by the media that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should take two years’ leave from the Congress, but he denied making such a statement.
{{/usCountry}}The former Congress MP said he had demanded that some general secretaries and others key managers must take responsibility for the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls.
In an interview to HT (August 3), Brar had even questioned the re-appointment of Manmohan Singh as the PM in 2009, saying that Pranab Mukherjee was the natural choice, but a strong coterie of the Congress didn’t allow this.
Brar had also advised the party to withdraw the showcause notice to rebel Haryana Congress leader Birender Singh.