NEW DELHI, July 22 � A day after the party threatened Himanta Biswa Sarma with disciplinary action, the AICC in a U-turn today, went soft on the estranged leader, stating that the issues he has raised would be sorted out within the party�s fora.
Briefing newsmen, AICC spokesman Randeep Surjewala, who faced a volley of questions regarding the crisis in Assam, stated that Himanta Biswa Sarma is the party�s loyal, responsible and reputed leader. �Instead of discussing the personal ambition of any person, I would focus on the party�s main principle, which is, that the party�s interest is above the interest of any individual,� he said.
When asked about Himanta�s activities and a joint petition by the State Ministers seeking action against him, Surjewala said that personal ambition for high office and timed political opportunism sometimes make an individual behave in negation of a balanced political conduct.
�However, life experiences and reality of politics tell us that the party is far above any individual. If I may say so, the party is like a mother and any child who does not have a mother is lost. However resolute or daring he may be, the child only progresses with support of the mother,� he said.
The Indian National Congress (INC) recognises that people can have aspirations, but no aspiration of any individual is above the interest of the party, the spokesman said.
�We are confident that Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is a seasoned political leader, would ever consider personal ambition as above the party�s interests,� Surjewala said.
When asked about the disciplinary action announced by the AICC, the spokesman evaded the question.
Asked about Mallikarjun Kharge�s report, which reportedly said that 63 of the Congress MLAs have opposed Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi�s leadership, Surjewala said that Himanta Biswa Sarma has a long list of contributions to the Congress party. He served the party and toiled for the party. He is respected in the party, including by the Congress president and the vice president.
�I am more than sure that Himanta Biswa Sarma with years of experience both in the party and the government, would not work against the party. The fact that he is grounded, the fact that he has worked and toiled for the party, he would never take a path which is separate from the path of the INC,� he said.
Any other issue, any disagreement would be addressed within the four corners of the party. �I say this with respect that who is supporting whom is not important for the party, but Himanta Biswa Sarma is a loyal soldier and very dear to the party. Any issue that he has, would be sorted out within the party fora and not in a public platform,� he said.
