Mumbai: Congress MLA and Mumbai Youth Congress President zeeshan siddiqui has accused the party’s city unit chief Bhai Jagtap of insulting him at a party event, exposing rifts within the organization ahead of Mumbai’s crucial civic polls.
In a letter to Congress President Sonia GandhiOn 15 November, Siddiqui alleged that when he had gone to attend a morcha on 14 November, which was also attended by KC Venugopal and Maharashtra Congress in-charge HK Patil, Jagtap also made derogatory remarks against him and his community.
Siddiqui demanded strict action against Jagtap, saying his behavior was against the ethos of the Congress.
Discord among party leaders ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections due early next year does not bode well for the party. The Congress, which once dominated city politics, has only four MLAs from Mumbai in the state assembly. The party has been slipped to the third position in the BMC.
The budding MLA from Bandra East said that on November 14, several leaders had prepared the list before going to ‘Rajgriha’, the residence of BR Ambedkar in Dadar, central Mumbai. Mumbai Congress Siddiqui claimed that the Speaker Bhai Jagtap, but being one of the four Congress MLAs from Mumbai and the President of the Mumbai Youth Congress, his name was not on the list.
Even though his name was not on the list, the police officials let him in as he is an elected representative.
“When Bhai Jagtap saw this, he ran and said that no one else can come in,” said Siddiqui.
Siddiqui said he told Jagtap that he was their president.
“You are insulting me instead of protecting me. This is not fair,” Siddiqui said in the letter.
He further alleged that Jagtap made derogatory remarks against his community, but did not elaborate.
“Here we are fighting against the BJP government, against fascism to protect secularism, social harmony and equality, but the behavior of the Mumbai Congress president is degrading,” he said.
“You being a fair person, madam, I am sure you will take strict action as this type of behavior does not represent the principles and ethos of our Congress party,” Siddiqui said.
In a letter to Congress President Sonia GandhiOn 15 November, Siddiqui alleged that when he had gone to attend a morcha on 14 November, which was also attended by KC Venugopal and Maharashtra Congress in-charge HK Patil, Jagtap also made derogatory remarks against him and his community.
Siddiqui demanded strict action against Jagtap, saying his behavior was against the ethos of the Congress.
Discord among party leaders ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections due early next year does not bode well for the party. The Congress, which once dominated city politics, has only four MLAs from Mumbai in the state assembly. The party has been slipped to the third position in the BMC.
The budding MLA from Bandra East said that on November 14, several leaders had prepared the list before going to ‘Rajgriha’, the residence of BR Ambedkar in Dadar, central Mumbai. Mumbai Congress Siddiqui claimed that the Speaker Bhai Jagtap, but being one of the four Congress MLAs from Mumbai and the President of the Mumbai Youth Congress, his name was not on the list.
Even though his name was not on the list, the police officials let him in as he is an elected representative.
“When Bhai Jagtap saw this, he ran and said that no one else can come in,” said Siddiqui.
Siddiqui said he told Jagtap that he was their president.
“You are insulting me instead of protecting me. This is not fair,” Siddiqui said in the letter.
He further alleged that Jagtap made derogatory remarks against his community, but did not elaborate.
“Here we are fighting against the BJP government, against fascism to protect secularism, social harmony and equality, but the behavior of the Mumbai Congress president is degrading,” he said.
“You being a fair person, madam, I am sure you will take strict action as this type of behavior does not represent the principles and ethos of our Congress party,” Siddiqui said.
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