Cong issues gag order to avoid controversy

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

The Cong ress party has issued a gag order to its leaders and lawmakers not to air their views in either the print or visual media on any controversial issue in the wake of the party facing problems in the recent past.

“We have been asked to literally ‘shut up’ and not to talk about any raging controversy as it has backfired rather than benefiting the party. Except one or two top leaders including KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah, none of us are authorised to speak to the media”, a spokesperson told News Trail on the condition of anonymity

Of late, Congress leaders have been getting into trouble by making contradictory statements on sensitive issues thus putting leaders in a quandary. It all started with the hijab row when Shivakumar did not wish to comment realising how sensitive the issue was and its impact on the party prospects in the 2023 Assembly polls. He did say that everyone must respect the Constitution. In case anyone was not happy with the verdict, there is a provision in law to move the higher court.

On the other hand, Siddaramaiah made strong comments on the row sending the alarm bells ringing in the Congress as it does not want to antagonise either  Hindus or Muslims with less than 12 months left for the crucial Assembly polls. Though the KPCC President had issued directions to the rank and file of the party not to comment on any issue without his permission, this was seldom adhered to and a few leaders said whatever they wanted to without bothering about the gag order.

Last week, the Congress got into big trouble after Siddaramaiah compared Hindu women covering their head with saris and seers covering their head with the saffron coloured headgear, to the hijab worn by Muslim women. Though the former CM released a series of tweets the next day to undo the damage, his statement may have impacted the party’s image.

Shivakumar who usually defends the statements of his party colleagues, this time, declined to comment asking media persons to ask the leader who made this statement. With no support, Siddaramaiah was forced to defend himself claiming he had high regard for the pontiffs.