Congmen have new sandesh: Maintain decorum

The Congress seems to be giving the partymen an advisory not to be like Rita Bahuguna Joshi when it comes to expressing anguish.

In an editorial in the latest issue of  Congress Sandesh, though the party has not mentioned Joshi's name, it has told partymen to "inculcate the habit of diplomacy and decorum in expressing our anguish whenever required."

"Lately it has been seen that political leaders have become prone to using intemperate language while reacting to political situations," it said, adding "mutual respect for political leaders and ideologies must never be lost."

The editorial felt that one of the reasons for the many "slippages" of late could be the fact that the polity of the country has got fragmented and "everyone wants to occupy political space at any cost."

"It is time politicians of all hues agree there is a need to establish a decorum that needs to be followed by one and all," the editorial said.

Congress was on backfoot over the controversial remark made against UP Chief Minister Mayawati a few days back by Joshi, which landed her in jail and her house was burnt.

As the remark was found to be "unnecessary", Congress was quick to distance itself from her statement in an apparent move to ward off any Dalit backlash which the party felt could upset its applecart in the most populous state, where it is currently on a revival path.