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The Rediff Interview/ Tariq Anwar

'Partymen who share our sentiments will do so later, I can assure you'

Following his expulsion by the Congress Working Committee on Thursday, the 64, Lodi Estate home of Tariq Anwar swarms with papparazzi, eagerly waiting to talk to the MP from Katihar, Bihar. Surprisingly, there are a handful of prosperous-looking businessmen with fat garlands waiting to congratulate the ex-Congressman for what they say call his "revolutionary bold step."

As he breaks out of the clutches of the waiting masses to head to P A Sangma's home, Anwar took some time off to talk toTara Shankar Sahay.

People are looking askance at the timing of your revolt. If you felt so strongly against Sonia Gandhi's leadership, why did not you hit out earlier, instead of waiting all these days?

For your kind information, I opposed her nomination as Congress president from Day One. When the Congress Working Committee met to confirm her nomination as the party chief, I was the only leader to oppose it. I also protested when the AICC later met to ratify her nomination. I think it was after that, that I became a thorn in her flesh.

Can you elaborate what you mean by 'thorn in her flesh'?

Well, I became a marked man. She would never look me in the eye. Her body language also made it apparent to me that I did not matter in her scheme of things. After that, she tightened her grip on party affairs.

Now that the bridges between you and the Congress leadership have been effectively burnt, what is your strategy?

Sharad Pawar is arriving in Delhi tomorrow. Along with Sangma we will finalise our future course of action. We plan to call a meeting of Congress workers, those who approve of our action.

Are you sure there are others in the party who support you?

Of course, I would not be saying this if I was not sure.

What do you make of the Congress leadership ignoring your letter questioning the credentials of Sonia Gandhi becoming the prime ministerial candidate?

It is undemocratic, it is unjustified and it smacks of a dictatorial attitude on the part of the party chief. Her attitude has spawned a culture where only sycophants and yes men are tolerated. This is regrettable because there is no scope for dissent.

Why was Sitaram Kesri virtually assaulted when he went to attend Thursday's CWC meeting?

This sort of goondagardi is being directly encouraged by 10 Janpath (the Congress chief's home). Kesriji is a former party president but the Congress chief's henchmen assaulted him and insulted him. These culprits, including Madame Gandhi, owe an explanation to the nation.

But it is being alleged that since Kesri is known to be your mentor, it was he who encouraged the three of you to revolt against Sonia?

This is ridiculous. The three of us found it impossible to get along with the way Sonia was functioning with her sycophants. When she made her move to become prime minister by rushing to Rashtrapati Bhavan, everybody got to see her ruthless, ambitious streak. But many of us were not comfortable with her foreign origin and so we accordingly wrote the letter to her. While we have come out in the open, partymen who share our sentiments will do so later, I can assure you.

What do you think of Arjun Singh?

He is a sycophant extraordinaire who specialises in sweet-talking the Congress president. He has no base and is utterly unscrupulous.

Coming back to the earlier question, haven't you erred by raising Sonia's foreign origin issue at this juncture?

No, I think the time was appropriate because the election is approaching. And this question should be settled once and for all. We think many in the Congress feel as we do on this issue so there is nothing wrong with the timing. After the poll, I think the stage will be set for bringing in the necessary Constitutional amendment which will enable only natural-born Indians to hold the office of President, vice-president and prime minister.. If our suggestion is accepted, then it will blunt the BJP's campaign to capitalise on this sensitive issue.

But if you have raised this foreign origin issue, the majority of CWC members have backed Sonia on it, so don't you find it a self-defeating exercise?

No, not at all. Whatever the CWC may be, it cannot decide on a crucial issue which involves the entire country. Secondly, we pride ourselves in calling our party a democratic organisation. The leadership should have discussed our letter and, if need be, discussed it in the AICC. Instead, Madame's sycophants prevailed and rejected the letter.

When you first opposed Sonia's nomination as the party chief, what was your argument?

I had been saying that why should she be given such a ponderous responsibility when her contribution to the party was nil and she was not even a primary member of the Congress? Ours is a huge organisation and there are many deserving candidates for the party chief's post.

Can you name any noteworthy Congress leader why sympathises with your stance on the foreign origin issue?

I told you, it is not possible at this juncture to name them. However, people like Jitendra Prasada, Rajesh Pilot and others are not very comfortable with the scheme of things under the present dispensation. I am hopeful that soon, like-minded Congressmen will get together to chart out our future strategy.

But aren't you worried that the party stands endangered with no alternative in sight to Sonia and her refusal to take back her resignation?

All this is nautanki (theatrics), sheer dramabazi and nothing else. She is one person who loves being surrounded by fawning courtiers and sycophants, so it is only a matter of time before she is back in the party chief's post.

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