Congress on Wednesday re-issued a gag order asking its leaders to “desist” from using the media to give suggestions to the party. “All leaders should desist from giving their suggestions and views to the leadership publicly when there are various platforms within the party where they can put forth their viewpoints,” said AICC General Secretary Ajay Maken.
The second of its kind order in less than six months comes following recent statements from senior most party leaders P Chidambaram, Digvijay Singh, HR Bhardwaj and Shahshi Tharoor leaving the party embarrassed. The party had in August asked the leaders not to talk to media and the job to be done only by listed spokesperson. However leaders Manish Tewari and Rashid Alvi had revolted and stated that being party loyalists they would continue to express their views in the interest of the party.
The former Union Minister insisted that Congress leadership gives its leaders enough opportunity to put forth their views on various matters for the betterment of the party. “They should save their suggestions to give those to the leadership directly when the high command holds discussions with them. They are senior leaders and, in the larger interest of the party, should eschew airing such views publicly when the party has provided them with adequate platforms to do the same,” he said.
As also head of the AICC communications departments, Maken, however, said that the direction was of a general nature and “applicable to all leaders” as he refrained from taking the names of any specific persons.