The Congress on Friday dismissed as “very, very immature” Ms Sushma Swaraj’s remarks on Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin, saying the Congress chief can become Prime Minister “tomorrow if the party decides” and she doesn’t need anybody else’s approval.
“Definitely, if Sonia Gandhi is to become Prime Minister, she does not need approval of Sushma Swaraj. If Indian National Congress decides, Sonia Gandhi can take over as Prime Minister tomorrow, in 24 hours. That does not need anybody’s support, anybody’s okay. If she decides she can take Prime Ministership anyday. She had many, many opportunities before to become Prime Minister... She was offered Prime Ministership on a platter. She refused it. There is no parallel in history,” party spokesman P.C. Chacko told mediapersons.
Noting that about three-four times since 1991 Mrs Gandhi was overwhelmingly asked by the party to take over the leadership, he debunked the logic that someone who is an MP and also chairman of the National Advisory Committee could not become the Prime Minister.
Assailing the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mr Chacko said, “senior and serious leaders should not make any such statements.”
Taking a veiled dig at the BJP leader, he recalled that someone had vowed to shave of her head if Mrs Gandhi were to become the Prime Minister in 2004.
“Parliament is giving all respect to Sonia Gandhi. There is no problem in dealing ... It is a very, very immature statement.”
The issue of Mrs Gandhi’s foreign origin had cropped up yet again on Thursday with Ms Swaraj saying she was still opposed to the idea of her becoming Prime Minister.