Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Padma Award Reignites Congress-G-23 Rebels Spat

The Congress management has not formally reacted to the award’s announcement. File

New Delhi:

The Padma Bhushan for Congress chief Ghulam Nabi Azad has as soon as once more spotlighted the sharp divide throughout the get together, with leaders of the “G-23” or group of 23 “rebels” and Gandhi household supporters sparring brazenly.

Former Union Minister Anand Sharma is the most recent Congress veteran to want Ghulam Nabi Azad for being awarded the nation’s third highest honour.

“Heartiest congratulations to Ghulam Nabi ji for nicely deserved recognition of his lifelong enriching contribution to public service and Parliamentary democracy,” Mr Sharma tweeted.

Heartiest congratulations to Ghulam Nabi ji for nicely deserved recognition of his lifelong enriching contribution to public service and Parliamentary democracy. @ghulamnazad

— Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) January 26, 2022

His colleague Kapil Sibal was extra direct. “Ghulam Nabi Azad conferred Padam Bhushan. Congratulations bhaijan. Ironic that the Congress would not want his companies when the nation recognises his contributions to public life,” Mr Sibal tweeted.

Ghulam Nabi Azad conferred Padam Bhushan

Congratulations bhaijan

Ironic that the Congress would not want his companies when the nation recognises his contributions to public life

— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) January 26, 2022

One other Congress chief, Raj Babbar, mentioned in a glowing submit:

Congratulations @ghulamnazad Sahab !
You are like an elder brother and your impeccable public life & dedication to Gandhian beliefs have at all times been an inspiration. The #PadmaBhushan is a perfect recognition of 5 a long time of your meticulous service to the nation.

— Raj Babbar (@RajBabbar23) January 25, 2022

The Congress management has not formally reacted to the announcement.

However shortly after the record of Padma award winners got here out, Jairam Ramesh geared toward his colleague utilizing the phrase “Ghulam, not Azad (enslaved, not free)”.

Mr Ramesh additionally referred to CPM’s Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former Bengal Chief Minister, rejecting his Padma Bhushan.

“Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee declines the Padma Bhushan award. Proper factor to do. He desires to be Azad not Ghulam,” Mr Ramesh tweeted.

Proper factor to do. He desires to be Azad not Ghulam. https://t.co/iMWF00S9Ib

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 25, 2022

He additionally shared a passage from a e-book about former bureaucrat PN Haskar’s refusal of the award.

“In Jan 1973, probably the most highly effective civil servant of our nation was informed he was being provided the Padma Vibhushan on his leaving the PMO (Prime Minister’s Workplace). Right here is PN Haksar’s response to it. It’s a basic, and worthy of emulation,” his caption learn.

In Jan 1973, probably the most highly effective civil servant of our nation was informed he was being provided the Padma Vibhushan on his leaving the PMO. Right here is PN Haksar’s response to it. It’s a basic, and worthy of emulation. pic.twitter.com/H1JVTvTyxe

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 25, 2022

Mr Azad, Mr Sibal and Mr Sharma are all a part of the Congress “G-23”, which wrote to Sonia Gandhi in 2020 complaining a couple of management drift and calling for giant reforms within the organisation.

The letter bomb break up the Congress down the center and outlined what had beforehand been muted criticism of the Gandhis and the get together’s incapacity to win elections over the previous 4 years.

The Padma award row surfaced on a day the Congress misplaced one other massive chief to the BJP, simply weeks earlier than high-stakes elections in 5 states together with Uttar Pradesh.

RPN Singh, a former minister within the Manmohan Singh authorities, give up the Congress saying the get together was “not what it was once”.

Mr Singh is the third member of “Crew Rahul” – the youthful leaders who had been a part of Rahul Gandhi’s inside circle – to give up over the previous three years. In 2020, Jyotiraditya Scindia switched to the BJP and final 12 months, one other key UP chief Jitin Prasada adopted that route.