Bhopal, May 11 – The Congress party has issued a show-cause notice to former Member of Parliament (MP) Laxman Singh, the younger brother of senior party leader Digvijaya Singh, over his controversial remarks targeting senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi. The party has stated that his "derogatory" comments have "crossed all acceptable limits" and caused "serious damage" to its image and dignity.
The show-cause notice was issued on May 9 by the party’s Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) member secretary, Tariq Anwar. This comes after Laxman Singh's remarks made during a condolence meeting on April 25, where he criticized the party leadership in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. Singh had said, "Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra are naïve. The country is suffering the consequences of its immaturity." His statements did not sit well with party members, with Congress leaders such as MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari and AICC general secretary Harish Chaudhary filing complaints about the remarks.
The party's notice pointed out that Singh's comments had been particularly derogatory and disrespectful towards senior party leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. The notice explicitly asked Singh to provide a written explanation within ten days from the date of receipt of the notice.
Laxman Singh, a former Lok Sabha member and MLA, has had a history of affiliations with both Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In his April 25 address, he also criticized Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of being "in cahoots with terrorists." Furthermore, Singh denounced Robert Vadra’s controversial statement regarding the terror attack, calling it both "irresponsible" and a security threat.
Singh’s outspoken remarks have reportedly caused ripples within the party, and according to an anonymous senior Congress leader, "Singh's days are numbered in the party."
The situation has raised questions about Singh's future in Congress, as the party seeks to address the internal discord sparked by his public statements. The outcome of this disciplinary action is expected to have significant ramifications within the party’s ranks.
