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The Rediff Interview/Ghulam Nabi Azad

'There is no point in talking to him'

Ghulam Nabi Azad, man for all seasons as his colleagues in Congress party refer to him, refuses to speculate as to what will happen in the Congress party. "The frontal organisations are demanding that Sharad Pawar, Sangma and Tariq Anwar should be expelled from the Congress party for gross indiscipline," is all he would commit to. In an exclusive interview with Onkar Singh, Azad says there is no point of talking to Pawar so long as he sticks to his present stand. "Once a bullet has been fired it cannot be taken back," Azad adds.

Normally an elusive person, Azad has been hanging around the AICC office at 24 Akbar Road to make sure that all those who matter see him. He makes it a point to accompany as many delegates as possible to meet Sonia Gandhi.

Will Pawar, Sangma and Tariq Anwar be expelled now?

It is very difficult to say... The CWC has its agenda before it. Naturally the issue of Pawar, Sangma and Tariq Anwar's letter and subsequent developments would be discussed at this crucial meeting.

The frontal organisations have been demanding action against the three leaders for raising the issues that they have raised. Since in an earlier meeting the Congress Working Committee had already rejected their demands, they should have accepted majority opinion but they continue to raise the issue through the media.

Have you spoken to Pawar after he penned the letter?

There is no point in talking to him. So long as the bullet is in the barrel it makes no sense to talk to someone who is holding the gun. But once the bullet is fired it cannot return. No, I have not had a word with him after he sent the controversial letter which he should not have done in the first place.

Gurudas Kamat told Rediff On The NeT that Pawar had discussed the matter with some members of Parliament from Maharashtra before shooting off the missive. Were you aware of any such discussion?

I don't know what he told other members of Paraliament from the state but he did not mention it to me.

Were the threesome invited for the CWC meeting?

I understand that this is the normal procedure, that all members of the CWC are invited. They were invited even the last time but they did not come for some strange reasons. Sangma chose to go to the USA despite being told about the meeting. Pawar had nothing on hand and yet he went to Bombay. Tariq was in Delhi and still he did not come because he wanted the other two to be there. Invitations must have gone to them this time also.

How much damage has been done to the party's interests by raising these issues?

I would not say there has been no damage but it is not as much as it has been made out to be. I have been in touch with members of the legislature and even municipal councillors. If the number of people who attended the meetings of Pawar is any indication then I can say there has been no damage. When Kalmadi walked out even he had a better gathering of MLAs and municipal councillors.

Sudhakar Naik has joined hands with Pawar. Does it worry you?

Not the least because they had always been thick pals. One was the chief minister and the other was defence minister of the country when people were being killed in Maharashtra after the Babri Masjid demolition.

You have been meeting Sonia Gandhi often in the last couple of days. Is she willing to take back her resignation?

The moment she decides to do that I would be the first one to tell you. We have all tendered our resignations from our respective offices to show our solidarity with her. She remains the undisputed leader of the Congress party and no one else can replace her. We have been meeting her in batches and time and again we have been requesting her to take back her resignation but so far we have not met with success.

The Rediff Interviews

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