Congress notice to Brar over comment on Gandhis

Chandigarh, Aug 2 (IANS) The Punjab unit of the Congress on Saturday issued show cause notice to senior leader Jagmeet Brar after his freewheeling comments on party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi left party leaders embarrassed.

"Taking serious note of the irresponsible and highly undesirable utterances of former MP Jagmeet Singh Brar, Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa today (Saturday) issued show cause notice to him asking him to explain his conduct by Aug 5," a Congress spokesman said here.

Bajwa said the notice was issued following a directive from Congress general secretary and Punjab in-charge Shakeel Ahmed.

Brar had Friday said Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should take a break (holiday) for two years following the party’s debacle in the Lok Sabha polls.

Brar has been a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) earlier.

Bajwa said he went through Brar’s statement in the media criticising the party leadership. He said the utterances were being taken seriously.

"Such irresponsible behaviour was not expected from a leader like him who had the privilege of enjoying the confidence of the party president for years. In case, he had some issues, the same could have been raised at the proper party forum instead of airing the views through the media," Bajwa said in a statement here.

"The statement was irresponsible and highly undesirable at a time when the party is seriously discussing the causes and remedies of the setback suffered in recent elections.

"Moreover, in Punjab, the party is facing two crucial bye-elections. Such statements coming from senior leaders like him has the potential of damaging the prospects of the Congress candidates," Bajwa added.