Former Union Minister SM Krishna on Saturday launched a blistering attack against Congress President Rahul Gandhi, blaming him for his decision to leave the party after 46 years of association. He said that he was forced to join the BJP after constant interferences of Rahul Gandhi.
Addressing a group of BJP workers in Maddur, Krishna said that ‘from 2009 to 2014 when I was external affairs minister, there was a suffocating environment in the party.’ He said that Gandhi regularly interfered in all the matters even when he did not hold any posts in the party or the government. Krishna alleged that even though Manmohan Singh was the prime minister, many decisions were taken at Gandhi’s behest without bringing them to the attention of the prime minister.
“There were matters that were never brought to notice of even the minister. Cabinet was in discussion over passing an ordinance. But Rahul Gandhi, who was somewhere, tore a copy of the ordinance. It’s what they call extra-constitutional authority,” news agency ANI quoted Krishna as saying.
Former Union Minister SM Krishna: He (Rahul Gandhi) was not answerable to anyone – neither Parliament nor governance. He took decisions on which ordinance was necessary and struck down others. (09.02.2019) https://t.co/xWQ11Ecgsu
— ANI (@ANI) February 10, 2019
He said that Rahul Gandhi was not answerable to anyone – neither Parliament nor governance. “He took decisions on which ordinance was necessary and struck down others,” Krishna added.
According to ANI, Krishna said, “I was EAM for 3.5 yrs. Manmohan Singh had no say over that portfolio. Rahul Gandhi was then a nobody, not even a General Secy. He issued diktat that those who turned 80 can’t be min. When I heard that, I submitted my resignation&came to Bangalore.”
Krishna had quit the Congress in 2017 and joined the BJP.
Congress’ Karnataka unit president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, said that he was disappointed with Krishna. He said, “Today when I hear his statements, even that 1% of respect I had for him is gone. For a person of his stature to speak like this, is absolutely disgusting. I don’t know what is making him speak like this.”