Cong MP praises RSS, slams party’s ‘Delhi leaders’

A day after the Congress session in Surajkund was marked by austerity, reports have emerged of a Congress MP embarrassing the party with his remarks praising RSS workers for their dedication and criticising Congress workers for staying in air-conditioned chambers.

Congress MP from Dewas Sajjan Singh Verma said RSS workers are better than Congress leaders because they work with dedication. "RSS workers work for their party with dedication, surviving on 'chana' (gram), while our leaders don't step out of AC chambers," he said, addressing party workers at Neemuch two days ago.

Noting that the party is going through a tough period, he said, "Our senior leaders offer lip service that we will win in 2013. As long as senior leaders of Congress don't put themselves in shoes of grassroots functionaries, mission 2013 is not easy."

"The leaders in Delhi are not bothered, they are happy with their own work. But when it comes to touring the jungles of MP, our leaders are unwilling to come out of their AC comforts. BJP has the support of the RSS. Without the RSS, BJP leaders are doing the same," he said. Verma had also blamed the party leaders for factionalism.

However, on Friday, Verma denied he had made the statement. "I did not say that RSS is more disciplined than Congress. I said that Sangh's functionaries lack facilities but do work. Our workers have the spirit but not the backing of top leaders," he said.

His remarks have emerged a day after Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, in a symbolic message of austerity, took a bus ride along with other leaders to Surajkund for a dialogue session.

Reacting to Verma's statement, senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in MP Assembly Ajay Singh said that party workers were working unitedly and would ensure its victory in the next year's Assembly elections.

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