With some of its leaders toeing a line contrary to the party position on controversial issues, the Congress on Monday directed that only authorised spokespersons could speak on behalf of the party.
This was announced on Twitter by Congress in-charge of the Communication Department, Ajay Maken, and the directive was immediately billed as a “gag order’’ by a section of the media.
Mr. Maken also attached the list of spokespersons authorised by the leadership along with his tweet. Asked whether this was a “gag order,’’ party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said at the regular briefing that this was nothing of the sort. “It is a request to media friends; 18 Congress leaders are designated as spokespersons of the party as you are designated by your organisation to cover the Congress.’’
According to the Congress, this was not a new list of spokespersons. “Nobody has been added or dropped,’’ said a party source; explaining that certain recent statements by Congress leaders – particularly Rashid Alvi and Manish Tewari — had necessitated this directive.
Wary of BJP trapStating that a “veritable trap was being laid out’’ by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its affiliates to trap political opponents, the Congress official line was that the response to certain emerging issues should be calibrated.
“The party speaking in different voices was becoming a daily affair; so it was decided that only authorised persons could speak on behalf of the Congress. There are times when the party may choose not to react to a situation or respond to a question,’’ is the official line.
