- Weather | Horoscope | Stocks
expressindia web
HomeBlogsCricketAstrologyShoppingTendersClassifieds OpinionsTravel
| Make this your homepage | Archive
Expressindia » Story

I'll be loyal to Gandhis till I live: Arjun Singh

Font Size -

Agencies

Posted online: Sunday , May 11, 2008 at 03:16:38
Updated: Sunday , May 11, 2008 at 04:43:58


New Delhi, May 11: Under fierce attack from the party, senior Congress leader Arjun Singh sought to buy peace with the party high command by utilising the loyalty card and dismissing as ‘needless and irrelevant’ controversies that surrounded him recently.

"This is a closed chapter as far as I am concerned," the beleaguered HRD Minister said in a statement a day after his remarks on loyalty as also internal democracy in the party created a storm and saw party chief Sonia Gandhi giving him a cold shoulder.

The septuagenarian leader said that he was ‘pained at the needless and irrelevant controversies’ that are sought to be raised on the book on him published by Kanhaiya Lal Nandan and presented to President Pratibha Patil two days ago.

Singh's remarks at the book release function that the ‘evaluation of loyalty in the party was now being done in a very narrow context’ was seen as a potshot at the Congress leadership.

His statement in an interview in the book Mohin Kahan Vishram that the decision making process in the party has ‘fallen in a bit of a disarray’ also attracted widespread criticism.

In the statement, he sought to build bridges with the leadership by saying: "When I met Pandit Jawaharlal Nehruji in March 1960 I pledged my total loyalty to him and his family. This was the commitment, which is an article of faith with me. For the past 48 years of my life, I have scrupulously adhered to it. I shall also do everything to maintain the loyalty and commitment to the remaining members of the family till I live".

At the book release function where he did not take the name of Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, in this statement too he spoke of the ‘remaining members of the family’.

Besides, he said in the statement that though he would always be available to the media, he would not be able to answer any question relating to the recent controversies.

"This is a closed chapter as far as I am concerned," Singh, who has been not on the best of terms with the leadership for quite some time, said.

Singh was snubbed twice by the Congress high command in the past one month.

His statement that there was nothing wrong in projecting Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate in the next polls got immediate rebuff. AICC said that Sonia and Rahul want to stay away from an atmosphere of sycophancy.

A couple of days back too, Singh's statement on the state of internal democracy in the party was out rightly rejected by the leadership.

In Sunday's statement, Singh noted that the book was not his autobiography but a compilation of articles written by different people about him from time to time. "All these have already been published and the Granth (book) was presented to me on April 27, 2005."

"I am still writing my autobiography which will be published on a future date," he said without elaboration.

Singh's latest potshot at the leadership on the loyalty issue had stirred a hornet's nest. His friends and foes alike in the party targeted him amid signals that uncomfortable days are ahead for the leader who was once a close associate of Sonia Gandhi.

Digvijay Singh and Ajit Jogi, once close associates of Singh, too attacked him while AICC steered clear of the issue of disciplinary action against the senior leader.

A CWC member R K Dhawan bluntly told him that loyalty is decided by the leader and also by the deeds of the claimant and not his words.

Bookmark this Page
  • Digg

    On Digg, users share intersting online content by submitting links to the site. At that point, the Digg audience can vote on whether or not they think it is interesting. Articles with lots of votes, or "diggs," rise up higher on the site's main page and topical subsection pages. Another form of social sharing, this site also lets users categorize the content they are submitting to Digg and label it with descriptions of up to 350 characters. Digg users can also submit comments on each content item submitted to the site.

    To register, go to: http://digg.com/register

    del.icio.us

    At its most basic level, del.icio.us allows users to save their bookmarks online. Del.icio.us also gives users the ability to "tag" their bookmarks with descriptive category names. For example, someone who has bookmarked multiple Web pages that deal with the Washington Nationals baseball team could tag those links with any terms they want, like "baseball," "nationals," "natsfan," etc.

    As members of a "social bookmarking" community, del.icio.us sers can also see how many other people have bookmarked the same pages, and they can look at those users' bookmark collections to find other interesting online content.

    To register, go to: http://del.icio.us/register

    Reddit

    Reddit allows users to submit news articles and other online content to the site. Users also give articles a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. Reddit then uses those votes to build a user profile and to find articles to recommend to you. Users can also submit comments on items posted to the site.

    To register, go to: http://reddit.com/login

Rate this Article
5
Rating
Ads by Google
Post Comments
Name* Email ID*
Subject* Country*
Message*
Characters remaining
 
TERMS OF USE: The views represented here are not neccesarily endorsed by www.expressindia.com and its allied websites. All messages will be moderated and no message that has inflammatory, abusive, derogatory language or any language deemed unfit for publication by the editor will be displayed. Though it will be endeavoured that as many messages as possible be displayed, there will be time lag between the submission and publication of the messages. The website reserves the right to publish or reject any message.
I agree to the terms of use.
Sick Arjun Singh’s loyality to Gandhis will last at least a month by n.krishna on 13 May 2008

Sick Arjun Singh is not loyal to India, but to a fake Gandhi family. Nehru was a muslim, Indira was a muslim and her husband was a muslim. Instead of going to Pakistan they assumed Hindu identities and stayed on with fake Gandhi surname. Now the family is christian that too imported from Rome. But Antonia Maino calls Arjun the Sick man and we hope that his loyality to the Italian christian family will last at least a month.

Sonia's many slaves by jgat on 12 May 2008

Arjun Singh is Sonia's filthy dog.

Treachery and slavery--- by romesh.sharma on 12 May 2008

Arjun singh has time and again given proof of his originality of examplary product of treachery and slavery.This time he has spoken too loud and clear.He is not a lonely example but there are many other Congressies who are more concerned to this duplicate Gandhi family and party interests involving their greed and craving of amassing riches.The PM Singh is another example of slavish attitude,who is cunning enough and prefers to be quite.Sincerity,altruism or an iota of patriotism do not exist in their dictionary/character.This guy is stupefied because of his arrested mind and thoughts of repetitious/habitual slavish-intrinsic worth.Not mere parasite but a virus spreading epidemy of discontentment,animosity and antipathy among communities that too only in the intrest of Nehru/Gandi family.India without people like him and Congress would have been a century ahead.

loyalty by dr.h.d.waikar on 12 May 2008

Have some shame and self respect Mr.Arjun Singh,or atleast respect ur old age.What is this loyalty u r taking about?Ur loyalty should be to India and not INDIRA ,SONIA,rahul and priyanka etc.No self respecting individual will stoop to this level.And this is for what?Just to occupy one post in Cabinet?A self respected person will prefer to die rather than saying in public or writing in books.What Sonia ,rahul has done for this country?Why all congressman r falling at their feet?This is a real mystry to millions of educated Indians?Insted of GANDHI say RAMA at the fag end of ur life which atleast will purify ur dirty mind and u may get a place in HELL!!!

Arjun Singh by anshul on 12 May 2008

Arjun Singh does not have capability to win even municipal elections on his own in MP. When all other states were ivnesting in infrastrucutre as a CM of MP he milked state and then left for delhi. Today leaders like him all elceted to rajyasabha head all imprtnant ministries. so much for our celebrated democracy

I will be loyal by KARUNAKARAN YENDAPALLY on 12 May 2008

What a shame.To owe allegiance to aparticular family is nothing but slavery.Indians wl\ould have been happy if he said that he will always be loyal to Congress party.The Gandhi's are running a slave trade.

Arjunsingh's loyalty to Nehru family by Yusuf Patel on 12 May 2008

Arjunsinh forgot to menioned tht he

loyalty of Senior Congress Leader by V Sahdev on 12 May 2008

WHY?

Fake Gandhis by Indi on 12 May 2008

Arjun singh should tell that he is loyal to fake Gandhis. Original gandhi was Mahatma Gandhi. His name is used by parasites of khan nehru family to make a living. These fake gandhis like sonia, rahul, priyanka, rajiv, indira have no identity of themselves. They are worst than a beggar on the street who for sure would be proud of his identity. Congies have always been loyal to fake gandhis and to muslims but not for the country. So voting for a congress govt in any part of India is detrimental to India, Indians and there security for sonia fake gandhi and her tribe are supportive and protects terrorists like afzal. Indira priyadarshini married a muslim called feroze khan. Then Mahatma Gandhi lent his name to feroz khan and he this became feroze fake gandhi and thus indira gandhi, rajiv gandhi, sonia gandhi, rahul gandhi, priyanka gandhi who are all fake came into being to live a parasitic life at the expense if Indian tax payers money and loot India as sonia has done in bofors.

Which Gandhi Mr Arjun Singh ? by Dr G G Rajan on 12 May 2008

Original Mahatma Gandhi's descendants have been coolly thrown out and occupied by pseudo Gandhis like Sonia Gandhi,Rahul Gandhi etc to whom Mr Singh owes allegience.This started right from Nehru's time itself.Not only that.Mr Singh has expressed his willingness and deep desire to stoop down to any level without self respect for retaining his chair.This is the Great Congress Party of Mahatma Gandhi, which has sold the country to persons of foreign origin without any sense of shame.

SAME by PQR on 11 May 2008

HRD MINISTER MUST BE A YOUNG PERSON BECAUSE HRD DEALS WITH COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO ARE YOUNG . A VERY OLD PERSON MAY NOT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE MINDSET OF YOUNG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

Give the devil his due by P.P. TALWAR on 11 May 2008

A senior old congressite Arjun Singh who has played long innings being in the congress party and the Congress government is now caught in the cobweb of his own making, because perhaps, he has rubbed some people close to the congress High Command on the wrong side, inadvertently. Though aged now, yet he is knowledgeable, experienced, possessing sharp brain and a dedicated worker. He should not be condemned for some misunderstandings. Give the devil his due. During his long political career, Arjun singh has held some of very important and sensitive posts like being Governor of Punjab when terrorism under Bhinderanwale was at its peak in Punjab. Unlss, he had enjoyed the faith and confidence of then PM Indira Gandhi, Arjun Singh would not have been picked up by Indira Gandhi and appointed as Governor,Punjab. His old foes have now joined hands in defaming him.But time will tell whether Arjun singh is right in his actions.

unreliable Arjun Singh by s.p.singal on 11 May 2008

He is now trying to swallow his own spit. He is a self server and is torally untrustworthy. It is surprising that late Rajiv Gandhi did not see through the skin of Arjun Singh and made him acting President of his party despite the fact that he trapped Rajiv Gandhi into signing a pact with Sant Longowal, only because Arjun Singh wanted to get out of Punjab and join mainstearm politics. Sonia Gandhi should watch her front and back.

bookklnandan/arujunsingh by kulamarva balakrishna on 11 May 2008

friend k.l.nandan´s book makes arjun singhcontroversy.but one point should not be missed.these ´power men´ do not care for any body buttheir dwarf selves.if they work at ground levellike sonia or rahul, they have no reason to complain.=taravadu taranga trust for media monitoring=-kulamarva balakrishna

Arjun singh by k.madhukar on 11 May 2008

I have a fleeting suspecion that this controversy was deliberately created by Him to sell his book. This cunning politician has seen this ploy was used by many in this country to sell unsaleable books or feature films and quite a few succeeded.In any case Mr Singh can only bully heads of educational institutions under his ministry and not Indira congress private ltd.The speed at which he put his tail between legs and sued for peace after creating the controversy may confirm my view.

Loyalty with individuals is personal-Why a National issue? by K. K. GHOSH on 11 May 2008

It is very difficult to understand why Mr Arjun Singh who has almost reached to the last evenings of his life, aged if not wrong should express his personal loyalty to a individual family at a National level? He is so senior that Sonia Gabdhi must not be above his eldest daughter or sons age and Rahul and Prinka his grand son or grand daughter's age.He is a Hon'ble Minister of Govt. of India, why he needs to express his personal loyalty in a Press and Media news? He can just walk in to the residence and just bow and come out. He has done maximum wrong and injustice to his own Countrymen in Quota issue and admissions in IIM and IITs. He is not loyal to any body but to himself and his own interest. He is notloyal to his own Prime Minister under whom he actually functions. He and Dr. Ramadoss are Bhai Bhai. He has earned curse of miiiions of Indians and young and dbright students, boys and girls. He has to suffer for that for hundred or thousands of years to come. God is great now acts.

Problem maker by Ahmed on 11 May 2008

All past, current, and future problems in India and its neighbors are caused by congress and its leaders.

HEADACHE by JATI HOON on 11 May 2008

He is a, "PAIN IN THE BUTT." Resign, and relive your pain.

arjun singh by NATRAJAN ,R on 11 May 2008

this poor old man has always been in controversies and in great painRESIGN AND RETIRE TO THE HIMALAYAS UNWORTHY ARJUN

Left pulls out, will meet President Patil on...Iran says will 'hit Israel, US ships' if att...Divided opinion on support to UPA on N-deal:...Talwars out on murder night? Nupur, CBI hit ...Jones’ 'terrorist' remark still hurts AmlaMarkets relieved on Left’s exit, challenges ...

© 2008 Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd. All rights reserved
The Indian Express Group | Advertise With Us | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Work With Us | Site Map