Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mullappally Rramachandran has took strong exception to the alleged statement of party's Thrithala MLA V.T. Balram equating Congress president Rahul Gandhi with Rahul Easwar, a pro-Sangh Parivar activist who campaigns against women entry into Sabarimala.
Talking to media persons here on Wednesday, Mr. Ramachandran said the party would seek explanation from Mr. Balram for making such a controversial statement tarnishing the image of the party. ‘‘No one is above the party. The Congress is not a party that give scant regard to discipline. We all are bound to obey party president,’’ he said.
When asked about the statement of party leader Ajay Tharayil that the Congress would resist any police action against Rahul Easwar, Mr. Ramachandran said the statement did not come to his notice.
He kept mum when pointed out that Mr. Balram had just responded to Mr. Tharayil’s statement. Mr. Ramachandran said the party was seriously viewing the continuing breach of discipline by Mr. Balram.
Later, Mr. Ramachandran took part in a procession and public meeting at Fort Maidan here commemorating the party's preference for a symbol of open human hand, inspired in the early 1970s from the deity of Emur Bhagavathy temple or Kalpathy temple here. Addressing the gathering, he said it was the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who chosen the party symbol following continuing electoral debacle.
‘‘The hand symbol helped the party to win many elections and assume power. Now the party must have to return to its routes to reinvent itself in the face of continuing communal onslaughts,’’' he said.
He said the party would continue to expose both the BJP-led government at the Centre and the LDF government in the State.
