Ghulam Nabi Azad under pressure within Congress for attending new Parliament building function

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has garnered criticism from party leaders for attending the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress leadership has also termed it as a breach of party discipline, writes ETV Bharat's West Bengal Bureau Chief Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri.

Kolkata: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has become the cynosure of criticism within the party for attending the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to the Congress leadership, Azad's move tantamount to breach of party discipline.

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told ETV Bharat that an enquiry is going on this matter.

"The Congress High Command will take the final decision on this matter. The matter will be reported to the party's disciplinary committee," he said. Chowdhury also said Azad would also be asked to give an explanation on why he attended the inaugural function.

The opinion of the leader of Congress legislative party in West Bengal Assembly, Asit Mitra is also of the same on this matter.

According to him, this is a matter of inner-party discipline.

"The central leadership of the party and the All India Congress Committee will look into the matter and then take appropriate action. But my personal opinion is that there should not be much controversy over this issue and it would be better if the matter is settled as amicably as possible," he said.

Ghulam Nabi Azad was removed from the post of general secretary of the party in September this year.

It is perceived that the action followed after a dissenting letter from a section of Congress leaders, like Kapil Sibal and Azad was forwarded to the party high command.

However, Azad did not stop even after that. Last month only he issued a fresh statement in which he claimed that the entire structure of the Congress party had collapsed.

At the same time, he demanded election for all organizational posts within the party.

He also slammed the luxurious lifestyle of a section of the Congress leaders and said that these leaders always look for the luxury of five-star hotels and airconditioned vehicles.

Earlier also Adhir Chowdhury had cautioned rebel leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad and Kapil Sibal for criticizing the party leadership.

Chowdhury had told ETV Bharat then that those who were criticizing the party leadership staying within the party were welcome to quit and form their own party.

"Empty house is always better than an ill tenant. But we cannot encourage those leaders who will continue with Congress and at the same time do something that will benefit Congress’s opponent," Chowdhury had said.