Gag order not aimed at any individual: Cong

A day after the Congress issued a circular directing all office-bearers not to speak out of turn and restrict themselves to their area of responsibility...

A day after the Congress issued a circular directing all office-bearers not to speak out of turn and restrict themselves to their area of responsibility,the party said it was not directed at any individual,adding that senior leaders should exercise discretion in airing their views in public.

Every organisation functions in a particular manner. If a circular is issued reminding people that they have specific responsibility and should stick to their brief,it is not inappropriate. No organisational circular is ever person-specific, AICC spokesman Manish Tewari said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

The clarification came in the context of general perception in the party that the circular was aimed at party general secretary Digvijay Singh who has been expressing reservations about many of the UPA government’s policies.

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The Congress maintained that there were many platforms available within the party for robust intra-party discussions on issues critical to the organisation.

Faced with a volley of questions whether the circular did not question the partys claims of internal democracy and transparency,Tewari said,Democracy does not mean anarchy. It has to be juxtaposed with a certain sense of discipline.

Asked how a senior party leader should respond when asked about issues not pertaining to his area of responsibility,the spokesman said,When you imply seniority,it subsumes a certain sense of discretion.