Emphasis on the erosion of the party and the need for introspection

Former President Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee on Sunday made serious allegations against the Congress party and raised questions on its current situation. He said that ideology and traditions have been eroded in Congress. Sharmistha advised the top leadership of the party to introspect and claimed that the old workers of the party are feeling isolated and dejected today.

Displeasure over not calling CWC meeting

Sharmistha expressed deep displeasure over the fact that after her father’s death, Congress did not even bother to call a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC).

• Sharmistha said,
  

  “CWC is the highest decision making body of the Congress. After my father’s demise, it was customary to call a meeting and pass a condolence resolution, but this was not done. Whether it was intentional or negligent, Congress should clarify.”

• He also said that his father’s diary revealed that at the time of KR Narayanan’s demise, a CWC meeting was called and the condolence resolution was prepared by Pranab Mukherjee himself.

Questions on leadership and ideology within Congress

Sharmistha Mukherjee said that the contribution of leaders outside the Nehru-Gandhi family is ignored in the Congress Party.

• Example:
  

  “We cannot forget what happened to former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. His contribution was also forgotten by Congress.”

‘My father and I were targeted on social media’

Sharmistha claimed that the social media apparatus of Congress kept using derogatory language against her and her father.

• He said,
  

  “Instead of trolling on social media, the party should introspect as to why people who believed in the ideology of Congress are feeling isolated today.”

Demand for Bharat Ratna and memorial for Manmohan Singh

Advocating a memorial to be built in honor of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and awarding him Bharat Ratna, Sharmistha said:

• “Manmohan Singh was the father of economic reforms in India and the architect of the growth story. He fully deserves Bharat Ratna.”

Manmohan Singh died on 26 December at AIIMS, Delhi. He described the demand for building a memorial in his honor as appropriate and necessary.

‘I am not a part of Congress, I have left politics’

Sharmistha also made it clear that she is no longer a part of Congress and has left politics.

• He said,
  

  “I no longer want to get involved in any controversy in Congress. It is the responsibility of the party to clarify what Rahul Gandhi has said.”