New Delhi, April 3 The Congress is the only democratic political party in the country, former Union minister Jairam Ramesh said on Friday while responding to reporters' questions on his colleagues Anand Sharma and Kamal Nath not following the party line.
Asked about former Congress MP Sharma praising the BJP-led Centre's handling of the West Asia crisis, Ramesh said, "This is an example and it clearly establishes that the Congress is the only democratic party in the country."
Further asked about Nath's statement that there is no shortage of domestic gas cylinders in the country, he said, "This is the second example that the Indian National Congress is the only democratic party in the country."
Nath said on Thursday that there is no shortage of domestic LPG cylinders in the country but the government's arrangements on the issue are lacking amid the West Asia crisis.
The Congress has been highlighting the long queues at fuel pumps and LPG cylinder distribution agencies to corner the Centre, while the BJP-led NDA has been insisting that there is no shortage of these items.
"There is no gas shortage in the country, but the government's arrangements are lacking. There is sufficient gas in the country, but an atmosphere is being created that is causing distress to people. The government has completely failed in gas distribution," Nath told reporters in Chhindwara.
Sharma, a former Union minister, has hailed India's diplomatic handling of the West Asia crisis as "mature and skilful", saying it has helped the country avoid "potential minefields".