Cong steers clear of question if Karti's remarks breached

Congress today steered clear of questions if the controvesial remarks against party leadership by Karti, son of P Chidambaram, constituted breach of party discipline.
"It is a matter within the party. It is for the leadership of the party to take a view. It is not proper for me to say anything and if I speak, you will make it a long story", party spokesman Salman Khurshid told reporters in reply to a volley of questions.
Noting that in a party, there is a wide variety of opinions and a large number of issues and the leadership takes a call on them, he said that flexibility is always needed in dealing with matters in a democratic organisation.

In the situation caused by the parting of ways by G K Vasan in Tamil Nadu, Karti had fired a salvo at the AICC leadership.
"We must rethink this high command-observer culture. Regional leaders shouldn't be waiting for commands from Delhi. Delhi can't solve the problems of Tamil Nadu," Karti had said, a day after calling for introspection within TNCC, saying the party needs course correction.
Khurshid's remarks came in the backdrop of the meeting Tamil Nadu Congrss leaders led by PCC Chief E V K S Elangovan had with party chief Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi yesterday and were asked by them to work unitedly to strengthen the party.

"They have said they are their personal views", Khurshid said when asked about Praneti Shinde, daughter of senior leader Sushilkumar Shinde, seeking a ban on AIMIM and Nitesh Rane's remarks against the Gujarati community in Maharashtra.