No space for anger in politics: Congress on Captain Amarinder’s remark

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 23

The Congress leadership and former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh hit out at each other publicly today, with the party saying there is no place for anger in politics and the veteran leader hitting back with “no place for anger, but enough place for humiliation” jibe.

Capt Amarinder had yesterday called Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra “inexperienced” and also threatened to pit a strong candidate against Punjab party unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu in the coming Assembly elections.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said Amarinder Singh is an elder and may have stated things out of anger.

Elderly get angry

Capt is our elder. The elderly often get angry and say a lot of things. We hope he reconsider his words. There is no space in politics for anger. —Supriya Shrinate, Congress spokesperson

Space for insult?

Is there space for humiliation and insult in the Congress? If a leader like me can be treated like this, I wonder what the workers must go through! —Capt Amarinder Singh, Former CM

“He is our elder and the elderly often get angry and say a lot of things. We respect his anger, age and experience. We hope he does reconsider his words. But, there is no space in politics for anger, envy, enmity, vendetta and personal attacks and comments against political opponents,” she told the media.

The party also refused to comment on whether Capt Amarinder would leave the party after his “unceremonious” exit as the Chief Minister of Punjab, and said “if someone wants to leave, we have no comment to offer”.

The former CM retorted sharply to Shrinate through a tweet by his media adviser Raveen Thukral. “Yes, there’s no space for anger in politics. But is there space for humiliation and insult in a grand old party like the Congress? If a senior party leader like me can be treated like this, I wonder what the workers must go through!” said Capt Amarinder.

The Congress had earlier described Capt’s statements as an elder’s anger.

“We hope that he will rethink on his own words while showing prudence, as he has remained a stalwart of the Congress party, which made him the Chief Minister for nine years and nine months,” said Shrinate.

Shrinate further said the party had an ideology and was fighting an ideological battle and would continue to stand with those who are standing with it in this battle. “But I would not like to comment on those who want to leave the party,” she said.