AK Antony directs Congress workers to toe party line

A day after the Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad disapproved of senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram’s statement on Jammu and Kashmir, another Congress leader A.K. Antony, also the AICC’s chariman of the central disciplinary action committee, plainly told party leaders to desist from making remarks “not consistent” with the established stand of the party. Party sources said that In a letter to partymen, Mr Antony said that, at the national level, only authorised spokesperson could speak on behalf of the party. This comes after statement by Mr Chidam-baram on the Kashmir issue. In the letter, Mr Antony said, “While diverging views are welcome during internal party deliberations, making public conflicting opinion does not augur well for the party’s image. I request you to avoid making statements not consistent with the... stand of the party.”

“It is also suggested that respective General Seceretaries/Incharges speak on behalf of the party pertaining to matters related to their jurisdiction. At the national level, only authorised|/ spokesperson can speak on behalf of the party. This may please be noted and taken care of”, he said.

The letter is signifgicant as party general secretary Digvijay Singh has often landed in controversies by making statements not consistent with the party line.