Jagran Correspondent, Chandigarh: Amid the ongoing internal rift in Punjab Congress, senior leader Manish Tewari has issued clarification on his warm gesture towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration ceremony on Friday. Amid the speculations of him joining the BJP, Tewari clarified that his gesture towards the prime minister should not have been linked with politics. The Congress MP further stated that he has always kept development works above politics.
'Believe In Basic Courtesies'
In a post on X, Tewari reminded of an incident from 2022 when he welcomed PM Modi when he inaugurated Dr Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (Tata Memorial Centre) in New Chandigarh. The Congress leader further stated that he was present as the MP from Sri Anandpur Sahib, adding that the same hospital is proving to be a lifeline for thousands of cancer patients.
"Over the past 45 years as a political activist I have seen how our politics systematically breaking down. It has turned increasingly toxic and corrosive where political rivals are now considered as mortal adversaries. Delhi today epitomises this broken politics," Tewari said in his post.
"However am still a little 'old school' who still believes in certain basic courtesies and tenets of protocol and above all keeping the imperatives of development above partisan politics," he added.
Internal Rift Within Congress
With just a few months remaining in the Punjab Assembly election, Congress is dealing with an internal crisis as several senior leaders have objected to the party's election committee. Former Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and his supporters have demanded to remove Amrinder Raja Warring from the post of state party president.
Apart from this, Tewari also pointed out that he has not been given any responsibility in the polls. However, he was part of the high-level meeting of Congress ahead of the monsoon session on Thursday, largely seen as an effort to resolve the differences.
With his clarification, the reports of Tewari joining the saffron party have been refuted; however, the Congress high command is yet to settle the internal differences within the party.