New Delhi:Former Defence Minister AK Antony's son Anil Antony resigned from the Congress on Wednesday. This comes a day after Anil Antony opposed the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi which has been mired in controversy.
"I have resigned from my roles in @incindia @INCKerala.Intolerant calls to retract a tweet, by those fighting for free speech. I refused. @facebook wall of hate/abuses by ones supporting a trek to promote love! Hypocrisy thy name is! Life goes on. Redacted resignation letter below," he tweeted.
"By now I have been made well aware that you, your colleagues, and the coterie around the leadership are only keen to work with a bunch of sycophants and chamchas, who would unquestionably be at your beck and call. This has become the lone criterion of merit. Sadly, we don't have much common ground," he stated in his resignation letter which he uploaded on Twitter.
"I would prefer to continue my other professional endeavours without being fed this negativity, and being involved in these destructive narratives, many against the very core interests of India. These I strongly believe will end up in the dustbin of history with time," he continued.
"Considering the events from yesterday, I believe it would be appropriate for me to leave all my roles in the Congress," he said. He had served as the Convener of KPCC Digital Media, and as the National Co-coordinator of AICC Social Media and Digital Communications Cell. He thanked the Kerala state leadership and Dr. Shashi Tharoor for their support.
On Tuesday, Anil had tweeted that despite large differences with the ruling BJP, those who support and place the views of the British broadcaster and of former UK foreign secretary Jack Straw, the "brain behind the Iraq war" over Indian institutions are setting a dangerous precedence.
The Congress party has seen a slew of resignations last year, Kapil Sibal and Gulam Nabi Azad being the most significant of them. These resignations have also invited sharp criticism from the ruling BJP which has taunted the grand old party by saying the Congress should focus on 'Congress jodo' rather than 'Bharat Jodo'.
Reacting to this resignation BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill on Wednesday seized on the resignation of Kerala leader Anil Antony from his posts in the Congress to take a swipe at his former party, claiming those who think for the nation's sovereignty and integrity can no longer remain there. "Self-respecting individuals who think for the nation, for nation's sovereignty & integrity can no longer remain in the Congress. It's not 'mohabbat ki dukan' but 'chamchon ka durbar' which dominates Cong," he said, echoing Antony's charge of sycophancy in the party.
Shergill claimed that, "Speaking for Pak, China & propagandists is criterion to remain in Cong now." Though he did not name Antony, the context was clear on a day the son of veteran Congress leader A K Antony resigned from all his party posts following widespread criticism of his tweet against the controversial BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots.
He said he was getting "intolerant calls" to retract his tweet against the documentary and the "wall of hate/abuses" on Facebook over the same issue have prompted him to take the decision. Anil Antony had on Tuesday tweeted that those who support and place the views of the British broadcaster and of former UK foreign secretary Jack Straw, the "brain behind the Iraq war" (involving the US-led coalition in 2003) over Indian institutions are setting a dangerous precedence.
