Azad's 'Bhushan' and Ramesh's 'Azad' comment widen rift in Cong

New Delhi: The rift within Congress party seemed widened following senior leader Jairam Ramesh's dig at Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has been nominated by the BJP government for Padma Bhushan. While the Congress party remained silent to officially respond to the highest civilian award being conferred on Azad, the Group of 23 leaders came out congratulating their colleague.

The Group 23 leaders are considered being the most seniors in the Congress party that demanded an overhaul in the party leadership following the grand old party's continuous poor performances in previous elections. But the leaders, who keep a good relationship with the Gandhi family, are not in favour of party veterans' recommendations, and whose public comments reflected party's official stand against the veterans.

After the BJP government's announcement of Padma Bhushan conferring on Azad, Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh suggested Azad to remain Azad, not Ghulam, calling CPI (M) veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharya 'Azad' for rejecting the Padma Bhushan.

Ramesh's this comment, however, did not go well with the group of leaders who wrote to party president Sonia Gandhi demanding sweeping changes in the party structure.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal was the first to respond to the Padma Bhushan for Azad. He not only congratulated Azad but also lamented his own party's 'no longer need your services' stand. Senior leader Shashi Tharoor also congratulated Azad.

"Ghulam Nabi Azad conferred Padma Bhushan. Congratulations bhaijan. Ironic that the Congress doesn't need his services when the nation recognises his contributions to public life," Sibal tweeted.

Congress leader Ashwhin Kumar, former Union Minister, also responded to Ramesh's swipe. Kumar reminded Ramesh that the Padma Award is not a honour given by the BJP but the nation and there is nothing shameful about receiving the national honour no matter which party gives to which leader.