4 days ago
Last Updated:May 26, 2025, 09:39 IST
The leaders, now part of the multi-party delegation, may be carrying a voice that is very different from Rahul Gandhi’s Congress, but may help ahead of polls over the next 2 years
(From Left) Shashi Tharoor, Anand Sharma, Manish Tewari, and Salman Khurshid. (News18)
The irony is there for all to see. As Congress fights back the increasing perception that it is left alone within the INDIA bloc in taking on the BJP and the government on Operation Sindoor and speaking a language which could embolden Pakistan, the G-23 has come to the party’s rescue.
The five leaders who have been part of G-23—23 leaders who demanded an overhaul of the party—are the ones now emerging as the Congress’ face-saver. Of them, one is no longer with the Congress but has formed a party of his own—Ghulam Nabi Azad. But Shashi Tharoor, Salman Khurshid, Anand Sharma, and Manish Tewari are now giving hope to some within the Congress, who are dismayed at the government’s constant name-calling, even as the multi-party delegation carries the message that Pakistan is a rogue country.
The Congress, unlike the rest of the INDIA bloc, has decided to go on the offensive. While most party leaders feel some of the points raised by it are somewhat valid, in politics, timing is of the essence. Like, why label Jaishankar as Jaichand—the medieval period Kannauj ruler depicted as a “traitor"? This would give Pakistan the upper hand against a man who has menacingly attacked their country, has not hesitated to take on many European countries for their duplicity over buying Russian oil, and who is travelling abroad to negotiate with countries to stand by India. In contrast, say Congress sources, Pakistan Army and the government are standing by their own leaders.
Not many are comfortable with the idea of a special Parliament session as it would make sensitive information public.
The former G-23 leaders, who are part of the delegation, are representing the Congress. They may be carrying a voice that is very different from Rahul Gandhi’s Congress, but it makes quite a few within the Congress comfortable, given that there are many polls over the next two years.
When the G-23 was attacked by many mainstream Congress leaders as they wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi asking for the party’s image makeover, they were attacked and called traitors. It’s the same people who could now end up salvaging the image of the Congress.
Location : First Published:News politics Once Labelled Traitors, Team G-23 Comes To Congress’ Rescue After Op Sindoor Fumble
