Congress veteran and ‘G23’ leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has asked the party brass to convene a CWC meeting to discuss the problems in Punjab. Another ‘G23’ leader, Kapil Sibal, said the party was “headless” and no one knew who was taking decisions.
Leaders close to “them” (leadership) have left the party, while “we” (G23) are standing by them, he added. Suggesting they were loyal but not blind, Sibal said, “We are G23, not Ji Huzoor 23”.
The two came under fire from some of their party colleagues. “Want to tell Sibal and others they shouldn’t degrade the party that gave them an identity,” Ajay Maken said. Others accused the ‘G23’ of shunning the party in times of struggle.
Pointedly referring to the Punjab turmoil and echoing ousted CM Amarinder Singh, Sibal said that such a situation in a border state gave an advantage to the ISI. While Sibal did not name anyone, the dissident leaders are learnt to have recently discussed the decision-making of the Gandhi siblings, Rahul and Priyanka, and raised questions about their style of functioning.