Leadership's gaffes anger key section in Congress

New Delhi: A growing section in the ruling Congress party has been angered by a series of flip-flops that has let the party down.

Allegations of party chief Sonia Gandhi being surrounded by inane advisers have started surfacing particularly over lack of sensitivity in dealing with matters related to Mahatma Gandhi.

Senior leaders Janardan Dwivedi and Mohsina Kidwai are being singled out for creating unnecessary controversies.

While Dwivedi publicly apologised for the party celebrating September 7 as the centenary of National Song Vande Mataram, Kidwai proposed watching a blockbuster Hindi movie a must for all Congressmen to learn the values taught by Mahatma Gandhi.

"It is unfortunate that the Congress party, which will celebrate 121 years of its establishment, has to recommend watching a Hindi movie to learn the values of Gandhi," a senior party leader said.

Kidwai had made her point during the Congress Working Committee meeting on September 10. It was readily accepted by the party's apex decision-making body, leading to several Congress-ruled states exempting Lage Raho Munna Bhai from entertainment tax.

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The main characters in the movie talk about following 'Gandhigiri' (imposing Gandhi's teachings). The endorsement of Gandhigiri is being seen as total contrast to 'Gandhiwad' (following teachings of Gandhi).

"Failing to make a distinction between Gandhigiri and Gandhiwad only shows how far we have got removed from the ideals of Gandhi, who served the party with great distinction," a senior leader said.

The party cadres are also upset over the controversy generated over the national song. While federal Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh made singing of the national song in schools optional, Dwivedi, a national general secretary of the party, apologised for celebrating the centenary on September 7 saying the exact date of when the song was written is not known.

Dwivedi and Arjun Singh have been waging a personal war to be seen as a close adviser of Sonia.