Ex-MLA Ashish Deshmukh calls Congress's showcause notice to him unfortunate, part of 'larger conspiracy'

Former MLA Ashish Deshmukh has termed as unfortunate the showcause notice issued to him by the Maharashtra Congress disciplinary committee claiming it was part of a larger conspiracy since he had been questioning the style of functioning of the party leadersDeshmukh further claimed that by issuing him an unfounded notice without any substantial reason the state Congress has insulted the partys democratic spirit which it is known for since more than a centuryThe Maharashtra Congress recently suspended Deshmukh from its primary membership for his public statements against the party leadership in the stateDeshmukh is a former Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Katol in Nagpur who later joined the Congress He was the Congress nominee against BJP leader and now Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis from the Nagpur South West seat in the 2019 Assembly pollsHe is the son of former state Congress chief Ranjit DeshmukhOn Wednesday he was issued a showcause notice by the state Congresss disciplinary action committee headed by former CM Prithviraj Chavan for his comments that MPCC president Nana Patole receives money from Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath ShindeAlso Read Irrespective of Sharad Pawars opinion Adani scam should be probed by JPC only Nana PatoleDeshmukh had also said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the Other Backward Class OBC community over his Modi surname remarksIn his reply to the notice Deshmukh said It is unfortunate that I have been issued a show cause notice without any substantial reasonDefending his statement on Rahul Gandhi Deshmukh said it needs to be explained and understood with the context to derive the right conclusionHe said the context of this suggestion was Gandhis statement referring to persons with Modi surname following which the former Congress president was sentenced to two years in jail by a court and and his membership of Parliament terminatedThis statement of Hon Rahul ji is being used as if he has insulted the entire OBC community Whether we agree with this interpretation or not is altogether a different point However my suggestion to Rahul ji was in the interest of the party I only meant that if at all there is any sentiment against Congress in the OBC community we should apologise and put an end to the matter Deshmukh saidThis suggestion of mine came on the background of the fact that OBCs constitute 54 per cent of the total population of India The Congress has been a party which is always supported by OBCs If this community is hurt what is wrong in apologising he saidDeshmukh said Rahul Gandhi had apologised unconditionally to the Supreme Court in May 2019 in Rafale case He had also extended an apology for wrongfully attributing the chowkidar chor hai jibe he saidDeshmukh said he suggested the same to Rahul Gandhi to put an end to the matterThe OBCs must be in their entirety as far as possible brought into the Congress fold again to strengthen the party he saidThe Congress boasts of being a democratic party and its leaders issue show cause notice for a democratic suggestion This is a great joke Deshmukh claimedHe said the Congress has numerous OBC leaders in Maharashtra and other states tooMy question is what are they doing for OBCs What are they doing to pacify the community or to deliver them their rightful share Unfortunately nothing They are still when the party is going through a critical phase enjoying their petty politics settling intraparty scores and weakening the Congress with dynastic style of functioning Deshmukh saidTheir prolonged silence and dormancy speak more than their occasional words and actions like showcause notice which carries no meaning he claimedDeshmukh said he was committed to the OBC communitys rights its development and welfare I have been doing my bit for the same he claimedThe BJP has planned an OBC outreach programme and their governments at the Centre and in states are implementing multiple schemes for OBCs On the other hand the Congress does not seem to have any concern for OBCs and it is painful to see that a democratically made pragmatic suggestion is taken otherwise Deshmukh saidThere is no exigency to explain my statement about MPCC president taking money from the current chief minister However I leave it to Maharashtra Congress leaders to interpret in their own ways like they did about my suggestion to Rahul ji he saidIf the Congress goes on neglecting the OBC community its fate is sealed Deshmukh claimedRather than issuing such baseless showcause notices I advise Maharashtra Congress leaders to use their mind words and actions in the interest of OBCs which will automatically cater to the partys interest he saidDeshmukh said his statements have been misinterpreted to target him as he is vocal for the welfare of OBCs in general along with the party and workers tooIt is a part of larger conspiracy against me who has been rightfully questioning leaders for their style of functioning By issuing me an unfounded notice the MPCC has insulted the democratic spirit that the Congress is known for since more than a century But everyone should mind that I am undeterred and determined he addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever