Rahul Gandhi gives Sanjay Nirupam ‘clean chit’

State chief may to continue despite anti-Gandhi family articles in party mouthpiece

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi seems to have indirectly given his backing Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam to continue in his post despite the gaffe of anti-Gandhi family articles being published in a party’s mouthpiece last month. According to highly placed sources, though Mr Gandhi has reportedly given clean chit to Mr Nirupam, the disciplinary committee of the All India Congress Committee will continue its probe.

Meanwhile, a section of the party interpreted Mr Gandhi’s statement later on Saturday in which he said Congress should contest the BMC elections in memory of the late Murli Deora and bring back the party to power in the BMC as an indication that Mr Milind Deora would replace Mr Nirupam at an appropriate time.

Mr Nirupam was under fire from the party high command over the issue of an article in a party journal slamming former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and terming Sonia Gandhi’s father a ‘fascist soldier’. The disciplinary action committee of the All India Congress Committee headed by senior leader A.K. Antony had issued a show-cause notice to Mr Nirupam on Wednesday in the wake of the

controversy.Internal party opponents of Mr Nirupam grabbed the opportunity and made a complaint with party high command against him. A movement to replace Mr Nirupam gathered steam and was reflected in a meeting called by Mr Nirupam to discuss Mr Gandhi’s two-day tour to Mumbai. The meeting witnessed an alleged scuffle between between party legislators Naseem Khan and Aslam Shaikh.

Mr Gandhi in his speech at Rajeev Gandhi Bhavan, head office of Mumbai regional congress, warned party leaders to stop factionalism and be united to come to power at BMC.

Meanwhile, Mr Nirupam, at a public rally at Malad in the presence of Mr Gandhi, apologised for his mistake and assured it would not be repeated in the future. A party source said Mr Gandhi accepted his apology.