Rahul 'out of touch' with ground reality, says Congress leader

His comments are bound to embarrass a beleaguered Congress. Former Union law minister and Karnataka governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj has slammed his own party, calling it too weak to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In a report by the Indian Express, he questions the recent statements of senior party colleagues that the functioning of Parliament would be affected if no action was taken against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

“I don’t think it is proper to take such a decision. Whoever has violated any law, the legal course must, and will, follow. But stopping the house from functioning is not good parliamentary practice. Parliament is the highest forum for discussing important issues concerning the people. Even this (Modi-Swaraj-Raje) issue can be discussed on the floor of the house. If the Congress is keen, they (Congress leaders) should discuss this in Parliament, showcase their skills,” Bhardwaj was quoted as saying.

According to him, the party’s vice president Rahul Gandhi was “out of touch” with the ground reality. “Rahul is a young man. He has to lead the young people. But he is not in touch with the senior people, he doesn’t show any inclination. So he is out of touch,” he added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday said that the senior Congress leader was right to criticise the grand old party, inviting the Sonia Gandhi-led political organisation to introspect on its tactics. “Senior Congress leader Hansraj Bhardwaj has rightly criticised his party. The Congress needs to introspect on its tactics,” BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said.

-- With inputs from ANI