Former Congress stalwart now leading his own outfit, Ghulam Nabi Azad continued to trade barbs with the grand old party and the leadership – Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi – prompting the Congress to call the former Union Minister ‘Pathetic’. Azad’s allegation that Rahul Gandhi has ties with “undesirable businessmen “provoked the Congress which stated “Contemptible statements” on the Congress’ leadership reflect Ghulam Nabi Azad’s desperation to remain relevant In an interview with a News channel, Azad, referring to the Gandhi family, said, “The entire family has associations with businessmen, including him (Rahul). I can give you 10 examples of where he would go even outside the country, to meet people who are undesirable businessmen.” Several Congress leaders from Jammu and Kashmir too hit out at Ghulam Nabi Azad over his tirade against Rahul Gandhi, saying he should have also spoken about the four decades of power he enjoyed due to the Nehru-Gandhi family. Congress leaders said Azad was defaming the party to create confusion among masses in view of the Gandhi scion’s constructive role and the appreciation he was receiving for “fighting the battle against crony capitalism and organised loot of the nation’s wealth on the part of the Narendra Modi government”.
“Azad’s criticism is manifestation of treachery and highest form of ungratefulness towards Nehru-Gandhi family on his part. Former Congress LOP in Rajya Sabha should also have counted ‘out of turn’ promotions, favours and positions both (official and organisational) he enjoyed during his four decades in power due to Nehru-Gandhi family’s blessings and trust reposed in him,” Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Saifuddin Soz and Tariq Hameed Karra said in a joint statement here.