Punjab BJP questions Congress leadership over dissent after organisation revamp

Chandigarh, July 4 (IANS) Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Congress leadership over the growing dissent within the party following the revamp of the party's organisational state unit.

Reacting to the open opposition expressed by several Congress leaders to the party high command's decision, Baliawal questioned the Congress leadership's commitment to internal discipline and organisational authority.

"Rahul-ji must answer a simple question: Are those openly challenging the high command patriots or rebels? If party discipline is supreme, will action be taken against those publicly defying the leadership's decision, or will this rebellion be conveniently ignored?" Baliawal said.

He said that the Congress leaders have repeatedly projected themselves as champions of organisational discipline, yet the ongoing developments in Punjab exposed deep divisions and contradictions within the party.

"Whenever it suits the Congress leadership, disciplinary action is threatened against party workers and leaders. But when influential factions openly challenge a decision of the high command, the leadership appears reluctant to act. Punjab deserves to know whether the Congress follows one rule for all or different rules for different leaders," he said.

Baliawal further said the public disagreement over the appointment has laid bare the internal power struggle within the Congress and raised serious questions about the authority of the party leadership.

"The people of Punjab are closely observing these developments. The nation is watching whether the Congress leadership stands firmly behind its own decisions or chooses political convenience over organisational discipline," he added.

Concluding his remarks, Baliawal said the Congress must clarify its stand and demonstrate whether the authority of the high command is genuine or merely symbolic when confronted with open dissent from within its own ranks.

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has categorically ruled out any factionalism in the state Congress unit. He said that there was nothing wrong with senior party leader Charanjit Singh Channi holding a meeting of party leaders at his residence.

Replying to a media query here, Warring pointed out that Channi is a former Chief Minister and the Chairman of the party's Campaign Committee.

"What is wrong or factional in his holding the meeting of the party leaders?" he said, pointing out that all the senior leaders present at the meeting had spoken only in favour of the party.

--IANS

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