Ashok Gehlot,
chief minister of Rajasthan – one of the few states where the Congress still
remains in power – hit out at senior lawyer, party colleague and former
minister Kapil Sibal on Tuesday over the latter’s remarks on the Gandhi family.
“Kapil Sibal isn’t a person from Congress culture. He’s a renowned advocate who
entered Congress. Sonia ji and Rahul ji have given him a lot of chances. It is
expected from a person who doesn’t know ABC of Congress to give such
statements,” Gehlot said, speaking to news agency ANI.

Gehlot, a veteran
Congressman who has himself battled a fair share of infighting within his ranks
over the last couple of years due to his rift with Sachin Pilot, said, “Those
who are talking about finishing the Congress party will themselves get
finished. The Congress is years old party and our leaders have made supreme
sacrifices before and after Independence.”

Gehlot, along with
other Congress leaders loyal to the Gandhis, is speaking out against a
statement made by Kapil Sibal after the grand old party suffered a drubbing in
all five of the five states that went to polls. “Leadership in cuckoo land…I
want a ‘Sab ki Congress’. Some want a ‘Ghar ki Congress’,” Sibal had told The
Indian Express.

Also Read | Kapil Sibal slams Gandhis, receives language of RSS-BJP retort

Kapil Sibal is one
of the members of what is referred to as the G-23 or the group of 23, leaders
who had written to party supremo Sonia Gandhi two years ago, calling for
sweeping changes amid the Congress’ dwindling fortunes.  

The Congress
Working Committee met recently to discuss the way forward after the party’s
poor show in the Assembly polls. At the meeting, Sonia Gandhi is said to have
offered to resign from her post along with her son Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka
Gandhi Vadra. Rahul Gandhi does not hold a post in the Congress chain of
command at the moment, but is said to be the person steering much of the party’s
decision-making.  

Sibal’s comment
has also faced the ire of Congress’ Lok Sabha whip Manickam Tagore, accused him
of speaking the language of the RSS-BJP. He went on to say, “Why RSS and BJP
want Nehru-Gandhi’s out of the leadership? Because without Gandhi’s leadership Congress
will be become Janata party. It’s easy to kill Congress then it’s easy to
destroy the idea of India (sic).”