The day after, Khurshid says: Take remarks in positive light

With the opposition going to town over his publicly aired views on Rahul Gandhi and the UPA government, Law Minister Salman Khurshid today battled criticism from within the Congress even as he urged the media to see his comments in "a positive light".

Khurshid had told The Indian Express yesterday that the root of the problems plaguing the Congress was lack of an "ideological direction". "Until now, we have only seen cameos of his (Rahul's) thought and ideas like democratising elections to the Youth Congress," he had said.

Khurshid said today that his remarks were being "misinterpreted". Amid indications that he was pulled up by the party brass, Khurshid contended that there was no scope for any objection or controversy over what he had said.

"If the media is not understanding or willing to understand the import of what I said, then it is better that these things are discussed within the party forum. I never said that the party is directionless and if I am saying this, then I am blaming myself," he said.

"My party has to give strength to the government. The party is the base of the government and the party, despite the disappointments that it has faced in a few places, is absolutely determined to ensure that we put the best possible step forward... In that context, my urging the young and new leadership of our party to prepare themselves to lead from the front, to prepare themselves to take on the challenge of our times is something you must see in the right context rather than in the negative context," he said.

Refusing to elaborate further, Khurshid said: "I will not explain anything... If I start explaining myself, I have to end up telling you, 'Please try to work towards the creative understanding of good language'... Because you are unable and unwilling to do that, therefore I don't think we should have any further discussions on this matter..."

... contd.

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