Reform is not achieved by questioning something one has ‘taken advantage of’: Khurshid slams G-23

Taking a dig at among the G-23 leaders who’ve renewed their name for reforms within the Congress, senior chief Salman Khurshid on Sunday requested whether or not these calling for organisational polls have gotten to the place they’re within the occasion in the identical method, and asserted that reform is achieved by sacrificing, not by instantly questioning something that one has “taken advantage of” through the years.

Days after G-23 chief M. Veerappa Moily harassed the necessity for a “major surgery” on the occasion to make it electorally extra aggressive, Mr. Khurshid stated these “wonderful phrases” are not the reply as occasion leaders want to sit down down and give you options to the challenges which have arisen within the final 10 years.

In an interview with PTI, Mr. Khurshid additionally stated that it was for Rahul Gandhi to determine whether or not he desires to contest the occasion’s presidential polls or not, however asserted that with or with out being occasion president he stays “our leader”.

Asked about Kapil Sibal’s name for widespread reforms throughout all ranges of the organisation and Mr. Moily calling for a “major surgery” on the occasion, the previous Union minister took a dig saying, “I am quite happy for the major surgery but what do you want to remove – my liver, kidney, just somebody tell me what surgery you want to do.” Mr. Khurshid, who is among the many leaders thought-about near the Gandhi household, stated the “surgery” needs to be achieved on the occasion however it have to be made clear what one will lose and what one will obtain by it.

“These wonderful phrases are not the answer, we need to get to the bottom (of the problem), we need to get to the inside, before surgery, we need to do X-rays, ultrasounds,” the 68-year-old stated utilizing medical analogies.

The senior Congress chief stated he does not perceive when folks say “let us do surgery, reform, bring about a fundamental change” and desires that they’d clearly clarify what they imply by it.

“If they mean that there should be a reshuffle and they should be given the top positions, then that is not reform or surgery. That is just saying ‘I want the job’. So, I think there should be a conversation,” he stated.

Mr. Khurshid asserted that the leaders calling for reform ought to have had a dialogue with different leaders as nicely.

“Why hasn’t somebody talked to me and said let us do this for the party?…(it is as) if only they exist and want reform,” he stated referring to the ‘Group of 23’ leaders who had written to occasion chief Sonia Gandhi and sought intensive organisational revamp final 12 months.

But since then, out of that group, Jitin Prasada has converted to the BJP whereas many have apparently distanced themselves from the group.

Pointing out that the ‘Group of 23’ leaders, which included the likes of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Mr. Moily and Mr. Sibal, had sought main organisational revamp, he stated they solely stated there needs to be elections within the occasion.

“Nobody is against the election, there should be an election. It would have been very nice if they had reminded us of which election they won to get where they are. If they reminded us of that it would be easy for us to understand,” he stated, taking a swipe on the G-23 leaders.

“But someone who talks about elections who has never got anywhere with elections in the past I think is being a little unfair to us,” Mr. Khurshid stated.

Talking additional in regards to the G-23 leaders’ demand for organisational polls, he stated they need elections in any respect ranges and “I just want to know – is that the way they have got to where they are”.

“Which party has elections at all levels in India? Elections at all levels in India, how useful, difficult and hurtful they have been, panchayat elections…We will have to have a separate election commission of the power that the Election Commission of India has because the Congress party is a huge party,” he argued.

There are many questions and leaders want to sit down and discuss it, he stated, including that they definitely want not go to the press in search of reforms.

On criticism that the Congress is in decline because it is not taking the trail of reforms, he stated many individuals who expressed dissatisfaction have achieved very nicely out of the system that the occasion has.

Noting that each occasion has to reform occasionally, Mr. Khurshid stated each reform does not come by instantly questioning something that “you have taken advantage of”.

“Reform comes when you give up what you have received…say that I need to make a sacrifice because I want some change to happen. Therefore, the first thing that I will do is to give up what I have received to make an example to people, otherwise people think you are being hypocritical,” he stated in an obvious dig on the G-23 leaders.

“You have got something, enjoyed it, and now you want more and therefore you are talking about reform. Reform means when everybody has to sit down” and take into consideration what is required, he stated.

Asserting that there is no shying away from that election, Mr. Khurshid stated it could occur however this is not the time to gather 5,000 folks and get them to come back and vote.

On whether or not polls needs to be carried out for the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Mr. Khurshid stated the Constitution of the occasion will dictate what is to be achieved and “we will abide by it”.

“I want to know how many people who want elections for the CWC were in the CWC by an election in the past,” he stated.

“I am waiting for my leaders to take a call, they know what is good for the party, what is good for the country. I am not in a hurry,” he asserted.

Mr. Khurshid additionally pointed to the impression of coronavirus on the occasion for not going forward with organizational polls and cited the lack of senior leaders reminiscent of Ahmed Patel and Motilal Vora to Covid as causes for slowing down the method.