Kamal Nath quits as Cong in-charge of Punjab

Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Wednesday night wrote to party chief Sonia Gandhi, expressing desire to be relieved from the charge of poll-bound Punjab in view of raging controversy over his recent appointment because of his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Gandhi immediately accepted his resignation and relieved him of his charge as party General Secretary.

Nath, who was appointed as the General Secretary in-charge of Punjab as well as Haryana only three days back, said in his letter to Gandhi, “.. I request that I may be relieved of my charge (of Punjab) to ensure that the attention is not diverted from the real issues facing Punjab.” 

He said he was “hurt by the developments of the past few days wherein an unnecessary controversy has been created around the tragic 1984 riots in New Delhi.” 

Insisting that there was not even any complaint or FIR against him in the riots case, Kamal Nath said, “this canard is therefore nothing but a cheap political ploy to gain traction ahead of the elections.... Certain elements are raking up these issues now only for political gains.” 

Expressing gratitude to Gandhi for appointing him as General Secretary in-charge of Punjab, the Congress leader wrote, “I am practitioner of Nehruvian politics and maligning of the Congress party using false accusations is unacceptable to me.” 

“I wish the party to focus on the upcoming elections and highlight the issues of misgovernance, misery of the farmers and youth, break down of law and order and rampant drug trade that caused untold misery to the people of Punjab.”