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Jairam Ramesh is sorry, says he's been misquoted

Jairam Ramesh, secretary in the All India Congress Committee's economic department, has apologised for the embarrassment caused to the party and its president because of an interview he gave to a foreign magazine.

''I regret that the interview has been torn out of context and misinterpreted. I am sorry that it has given the impression that I have violated party discipline,'' Ramesh said in reply to a letter from AICC general senretary Oscar Fernandes, asking him to show cause as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for the remarks made in the interview.

"My objective remains to work, in my own little, humble way under the leadership of the Congress president to strengthen the Congress party,'' he said recalling his long association with the Congress since the days of Rajiv Gandhi.

Party spokesperson Margaret Alva, who released a copy of Ramesh's letter to the press, said he met Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday and discussed the matter with her.

Asked whether Sonia was satisfied with his (Ramesh's) explanation, Alva said the matter was now with the party president.

Ramesh in his letter said the interview was informal and unrecorded. ''I highlighted the positive contributions of the Congress president that have not appeared in the interview,'' he said stressing that a Delhi daily had given a ''completely wrong interpretation to one statement I never made.''

Ramesh said he could claim with a clear conscience that it was never his intention to raise the banner of revolt. ''I have been closely associated with the Congress ever since the days of Rajivji and have been an office-bearer of the AICC for the past 30 months...my commitment to the Congress is unwavering and total,'' he said.

''I sincerely and unreservedly apologise for the embarrassment that has been caused to the Congress and to the Congress president on account of this interview which was given in good faith and with no intention to criticise the Congress or its leadership,'' he said.

UNI

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