New DelhiCongress leader Anil K Antony, son of former Union minister AK Anthony, on Wednesday announced his resignation from the party, a day after he criticized a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “It is my personal decision and I feel it is the best course of action. I have not discussed it with my father. I have sent my resignation and I hope the leadership will accept it.”
I don’t think there is a place for me in this Congress. Congress people have hurt me a lot, Anthony told ANI. In a tweet today, Anthony said that he was facing intolerable calls to retract one of his earlier tweets, in which he had condemned the documentary on PM Modi and termed it as a “shit”. Dangerous example.
In his resignation letter, Anthony said that he did not accede to the demands to withdraw the tweet and instead submitted his resignation from the party. The former Defense Minister’s son also hit out at the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra by Rahul Gandhi. Anil Antony tweeted today: “I have resigned from my roles at @incindia@INCKerala. Intolerable calls by fighters for free speech to withdraw the tweet. I refuse @Facebook wall of hate/abuse by trek supporters to promote love! Hypocrisy is your name! Life goes on. Revised resignation letter below.
Anthony said it would be “appropriate” for him to step down from his role as KPCC digital media convenor and Congress social media and digital communication cell national coordinator. That you, your allies, and the circle around the leadership are only willing to put up with a bunch of sycophants and spoons who will unquestioningly act at your behest. It has become the sole criterion of merit.
Sadly, we don’t have much in common. I firmly believe that these will end up in the dustbin of history with time.” In a tweet on 24 January, Anthony hit out at the BBC, calling it “a state-sponsored channel with a long history of bias” against India Was.
“Despite major differences with the BJP, I think those in India who hold the views of the BBC, a UK state-sponsored channel, have a long history of prejudice, and Jack Straw, the brains behind the Iraq War, setting a dangerous precedent on Indian institutions. Will undermine our sovereignty,” tweeted Anthony. Meanwhile, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the CPM, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Congress Screened the documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ at various places in Kerala yesterday.