Bengaluru: Any political party that neglects senior and experienced leaders will have no future in the country, according to former Union Minister S M Krishna.
A day after resigning from Congress, S M Krishna hit out Congress saying that it does not need mass leaders but only those who can manage the day to day affairs of the party. Speaking with media persons at his Sadashivanagar residence, the former union minister said: “It seems Congress does not need mass leaders these days, Congress needs managers who can handle a situation’’.
Venting his ire for removing him from Union Cabinet during UPA regime in 2012, the former union minister said that he was pained to see how Congress sidelined him by citing his age. “The Congress leadership did not take my age into account while assigning me to campaign for Congress candidates during the last Assembly elections. I toured the state during the last elections and nobody thought I was old. Suddenly, they have discovered that I am old and need rest. I felt the Congress did not need me. With pain and anguish, I have decided to quit the Congress and have told Central leaders that I stand by it. I am of the opinion that Congress should learn the art of gracefulness to consult senior leaders before sidelining them. According to me, age is a state of mind. Age should not be a criteria for deciding what the situation needs. There are people who are inactive even when young. Ultimate test is your intent,’’ he said.
He recalled how Congress president Sonia Gandhi was courteous during the meeting in Delhi at the time selecting candidates to Rajya Sabha. “I never expected Congress high command to take one decision while I was in Delhi and other decision after I reached Bengaluru. Had Sonia Gandhi told me that Congress party does not want to nominate me to Rajya Sabha I would have happily announced that I was not a candidate to Rajya Sabha,’’ he said.
Retirement not in my dictionary
When asked about the reports of his political retirement, Krishna said: “Retirement from active politics is not in my dictionary. Age is just a state of mind according to me. Age should not be a criteria for deciding what the situation needs. The ultimate test is your intent and capacity’’.
Future course of action
The former union minister said that he was yet to decide on his next step and ruled out any plan to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that different reports appeared in the media about him but all not true. “This is a time to do some introspection. I took this decision (resigning from the Congress) just a day before. I did not consult anyone but my wife,’’ he said.
Not in the race for Vice President’s post
The former union minister said that he was not in race for the Vice President’s post. “I am not an insane person to aspire Vice President’s post,’’ he said.
When brought Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda’s statement stating that BJP will welcome him if he decides to join it, “It was Sadananda Gowda’s statement. I do not want to answer this query,’’ he said.
I am like a tube light
Answering a query on the delay (since 2012) in taking a decision to quit Congress, former union minister said that every individual would have his/her own style to react to the situation. “Some people may react to the situation quickly. I am like a tube light. I also take time to take a decision like how a tube light needs some time to start up,’’ he said.
