No internal democracy left in Cong: Ex-minister

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 29

Days after presenting a dossier against Bhupinder Singh Hooda to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, former state minister Capt Ajay Yadav today announced his resignation from the Congress. The development comes after the former minister was asked not to attend an important party meeting in Delhi two days ago even though he was first invited. On war path with Hooda, Yadav told The Tribune that the Congress had abandoned internal democracy and he was feeling isolated and jilted. Excerpts:

Why are you quitting your party of 28 years?

There is no internal democracy left in the Congress. AICC general secretary in charge of Haryana Kamal Nath has killed internal democracy. He is biased and has misrepresented my case in front of the Congress high command. He is siding with Hooda and giving one-sided report to the leaders about why I went to Khattar.

Why didn’t you meet Congress president before quitting?

It pains me to say that both Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi did not give me an appointment. I have been seeking one from Soniaji for four days and from Rahul for a week. No one has called me since I announced my resignation. No one cares.

Your principal concern?

My humiliation. I was first invited and then told not to come for the party meeting in Delhi. Kamal Nath didn’t care to call me personally to say why this was done and at whose behest. He informed me through Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar. How can I be with a party where my honour is at stake? Kamal Nath took no cognisance of my documents on Hooda. One can’t talk inside party or to the media. One feels suffocated.

Will you reconsider your decision like you did when you quit the previous Hooda cabinet?

I can’t remain in the Hooda Congress. Hooda is carrying the state Congress in his pocket. It has become a one-man party in Haryana. Many leaders left because of him. Question is, why is this being allowed? Why was no action taken against Hooda for not voting in the Rajya Sabha elections from Haryana? My effigies were burnt in Rohtak by Hooda’s supporters. Why did Kamal Nath not act?

Are you joining BJP?

I will never join the BJP. There are many regional forces in Haryana. I will first travel the state, meet my supporters and ask them what to do next.

Congress says it hasn’t received your resignation.

I will submit my formal resignation to Sonia Gandhi tomorrow morning.