NEWS

Wasnik's fracas leaves Congress red-faced

By Renu Mittal
December 23, 2010 23:36 IST
All India Congress Committee general secretary Mukul Wasnik's face off with the Bihar Congress delegates has turned ugly with senior leaders alleging that Wasnik, reportedly, hit senior party worker Shashi Kant Tewari, an old timer of the party.

Along withWasnik,  a Delhi MLA Neeraj Basoya as well as a Congress councillor from RK Puram, Hiren Tokas are also alleged to have struck Tewari.

Tokas has been earlier been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation earlier after being caught red handed taking a bribe.

All this happened at the entrance of 10 Janpath, the residence of Congress President  Sonia Gandhi, when delegates from various states were lining up to meet the congress president for a photo call, the day after the plenary session had ended.

When Mukul Wasnik indicated to the Special Protection Group not to allow Tewari into 10 Janpath, an angry Tewari shouted at Wasnik wanting to know why he was not being allowed to meet the Congress president.

Tewari said,"First you sell party tickets, and now you will not allow us to

meet her."

Party sources claim that an enraged Wasnik hit Tewari followed by Basoya and Tokas and then Tewari retaliated by punching Wasnik.

Tewari sat on dharna outside the party headquarters at 24 Akbar Road since Wednesday and asked Motilal Vora to arrange for him to meet with Sonia Gandhi failing which he would commit "atmadah."(Suicide)

In Patna, Wasnik's effigy was burnt by party workers who were protesting the injustice meted out to Tewari.

Sources say that Sonia Gandhi is disgusted at the manner in which senior leaders of the party are behaving.

Tewari is likely to file a case against Wasnik, even as senior leaders are trying to persuade him to drop the matter.

Party delegates from Bihar are of the view that Wasnik and his cronies had no right to hit a party delegate. He should not haven taken matters into his own hands.

Sources say that with Teawri unwilling to budge an inch, Wasnik will have a hard time ahead as the sordid saga of the Congress in Bihar continues to unfold.

Renu Mittal in New Delhi

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