Those who are passing comments on the book published on the history of the Congress party — said to contain disparaging remarks about Indira Gandhi — were “selectively picking out lines out of context, without [having read] the book”, said Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, he said the book contained several articles by historians, which showed that the party had the “maturity” to accommodate all views.
Mr. Sharma said, however, that there was no rift in the party over the issue.
Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee was the chairperson of the editorial board and Mr. Sharma its convener.
The controversy had erupted over a comment that blamed the late former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, for having allegedly damaged the party's electoral base in Uttar Pradesh.
