Though direct allegations were made by Union Minister of Steel Beni Prasad Verma that the Congress State president had no time to visit the party's State head quarter, Nirmal Khatri once again chose to skip his visit to Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee's office on Tuesday. This is not the first time that Khatri visited the Parliament constituency Faizabad and chose to abstain office in lucknow to listen to the woes of the workers.
Surprisingly, Beni is not the only person pointing out allegations against Khatri, buthe even overlooked directions of the party's high command which issued clear instructions to all senior leaders, particularly ministers hailing from UP, that they should devote time to the UPCC whenever they visit lucknow in order to strengthen the organisation. However, Khatri, who is directly entrusted to strengthen the organisation, had always given more time in his Parliamentary constituency than at his office in UPCC.
Sources said, a big number of Congressmen, including some office bearers of the UPCC, were waiting for Khatri at State Head Quarter on Tuesday, as they had information that Nirmal Khatri, who is returning from Faizabad would stop at his office before taking a flight to New Delhi from Chowdhary Charan Singh Airport at Amausi on Tuesday evening.
The leaders wanted to convey their resentment within the party with the State president, particularly about some office bearers, who were though appointed by Khatri, but were using extra constitutional powers in absence of any permanent committee of the UPCC. Sources in the party maintained that Khatri is well aware of the differences within the party, hence he preferred to directly fly to New Delhi instead of trying to resolve the issue.
Interestingly, when Beni Prasad Verma openly took on Khatri for his step-motherly treatment towards UPCC, many other leaders also criticised the State President for his approach towards the organisation.
"Though it is too late now as Parliament elections are just few months away but if Rahul Gandhi wanted to any boost the organisation before the polls, he must either direct Khatri to leave his Parliament constituency and concentrate on organisational activities or should replace Khatri", demanded a senior Congress leader hailing from Gorakhpur.
He claimed Khatri is very lucky that both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi had given free hand to Khatri to strengthen the organisation but he so far showed least respect to their confidence.