In a letter to party national general secretary Oscar Fernandes, Patel has requested that the expulsion of the three rebels be withdrawn and they be invited for a discussion.

Expressing his inability to attend the vital AICC session ``at such short notice'', Patel said the rebel leaders be called to debate the issue they had raised. ``Why are we afraid of discussing real issues raised in the new situation? Instead of talking it over, the working committee took the extreme step of expelling the leaders. Throwing (them) out one by one will only weaken the Congress,'' he said.

Patel said he was pained by the ``ugly demonstrations by so-called Congressmen at the Congress headquarters in Delhi. They do not seem to be spontaneous but managed and organised by certain groups. They (seemed to be)directed against our certain leaders, who hold different views.''

Patel expressed surprise that the party known for secular democracy and tolerance for views raised by colleagues was ``(resorting to) fascist methods like organising crowds with banners depicting leaders as monsters and burning effigies'' to indicate they were enemies of the Congress.

``The real enemies are the Frankensteins who resorted to undemocratic, fascist, violent and crude methods. The monster they created can engulf us all tomorrow.''