TheCongress tried to smoothen things out after the group of dissenters chose toattack the party leadership over ignoring them and not consulting the partyleaders in decision making or not building a consensus on any decision.
Seniorspokesperson of the party Abhishek Manu Singhvi said at a press conference thatthe leaders are highly "respected" in the party but they should havedone more to "strengthen" the party in the poll-bound states.
Singhviplayed down the issue and said, "Each of the persons who are in Jammu arewell regarded in the party. We are proud to have them in our party and Ibelieve they are equally proud to be members of the Congress Party thereforethey are part of this Congress family and therefore whatever I say is with thegreatest respect to the leaders."
"Irespect the traditional legacy between Congress and them over these lastthree-four decades. The principal person in whose honour this (Jammu) rally wasorganised, nobody has used the word "istemal" (Use) in relation to MrAzad, he has never complained. Those who use the word "istemal"betray certain things, lack of knowledge and ignorance about the contemporaryhistory of the Congress and about the older history of the party. We are proudand he is proud that he has held the Congress flag for more than 7 terms inParliament, 5 in Rajya Sabha and two in Lok Sabha, which is roughly 40 years.Congress President Sonia Gandhi nominated him as chief minister of Jammu andKashmir."
"Iwould therefore very, very gently and respectfully say that the bestcontribution to the Congress cause is to be active not among ourselves but tobe active in various Abhiyans (campaigns) going on everyday in five stateswhere the Congress is fighting elections. In light of what I have said I don'tintend to answer those questions which sensationalize the issue and digressfrom the core issue," Singhvi added.
Congresssupporter Tahseen Poonawala was more critical and said, "I ask questionsof Anand Sharma ji and Ghulam Nabi Azad sahab. Can they continuously win LokSabha elections from their home states? What did they do to strengthen theparty in states like UP & TN where they were in-charge? Why did they notdemand elections when they were always enjoying the 'fruits of power'?
Whyare they not campaigning in the state elections that are due?"
Insolidarity with the former Leader of Opposition, Congress dissenters includingKapil Sibal, Raj Babbar, Manish Tewari were in Jammu and chose to attack theparty.
AnandSharma attacked those who have been critical of them. He said, "I have notgiven anyone the right to tell me if we are people of the Congress or not, noone has that right and we will build the party, we will strengthen it andbelieve in the strength and unity of Congress."
Headded that most of the leaders have covered a very long distance to reach wherewe are today. "Nobody among us has come through the window, all of us havewalked through the door."
ManishTewari tweeted, "Impressive gathering in Jammu - Gandhi Global Familyplatform brings Progressive, pluralistic & nationalistic forces together todemand restoration of statehood of J&K & to protect and preserve the'idea of India' pan nationally."