Union minister and Congress leader Sriprakash Jaiswal on Monday said there is nothing wrong in multiple and divergent views surfacing within the party over the Batla House encounter.
“The office bearers of the organisation have the right and responsibility to raise issues and make a demand from its government and there is nothing wrong in it,” Mr. Jaiswal said replying to questions on contradictory statements by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh over the issue.
When asked about Mr. Digvijay’s claim that the encounter was fake, Mr. Jaiswal said the matter should be decided by the concerned ministry. He also expressed hope that organisation and government will together work the issue out soon and the result will be before the people.
On Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s demand for action on the matter, Mr. Jaiswal said Mr. Yadav had the right to say it but asserted that the government and organisation were two different things.
The union minister also expressed unhappiness with BSP’s objections over the Election Commission’s decision to drape statues of UP Chief Minister Mayawati and her party symbol elephant.
“We may or may not agree with it personally, but have to follow it,” he said adding that although personally, he too was not in favour of the move but asserted there is no scope for disagreeing once the decision has been taken.
On any possibility of post-poll alliance with SP in the state, Mr. Jaiswal said there is no scope or need for it as Congress is all set to form government with clear majority.
Taking a dig at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi depicting himself as Swami Vivekanand in some pictures, Mr. Jaiswal said he appears to be doing “prayashchit” (penance) and it has to be seen how well it goes down with the people.
