Ex-law minister Ashwani Kumar quits Congress, says can best serve India's interests outside party fold
In a letter to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, Ashwani Kumar said, "Having given my thoughtful consideration to the matter, I have concluded that in the present circumstances and consistent with my dignity, I can best subserve larger national causes outside the party fold."
He said he hoped to proactively pursue public causes inspired by the idea of transformative leadership, based on the promise of a liberal democracy envisioned by freedom fighters.
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"I am accordingly quitting the Congress after a long association of 46 years and hope to proactively pursue public causes inspired by the idea of transformative leadership, based on the promise of a liberal democracy envisioned by our freedom fighters," he said.
"While paying my respectful regards, I thank you for the consideration extended to me in the past and wish you good health in the years ahead," he added.
Kumar, whose two generations have been associated with the Congress, blamed his decision on “lack of leadership” in the party. Noting that he had persevered enough in the party, Kumar said the Congress was unable to reinvent itself and continued to decline.
The former law minister said the recent controversies around the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Padma Bhushan to Ghulam Nabi Azad further cemented his decision to quit. He also criticised the manner in which the Congress “treated former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh”.
“The former CM was humiliated publicly and that was against the principles the Congress has stood for,” he added.
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He claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was about to win Punjab and added that the Congress as a national party faced a major challenge with regional players emerging much stronger.
-PTC News
