Mumbai Cong gifts corrupt party worker a RaGa moment

Sanjay Nirupamled Mumbai Regional Congress Committee MRCC has landed in yet another controversy that might be a reason for a big embarrassment to party president Rahul Gandhi ahead of the Lok Sabha electionsThis time the MRCC allegedly got a local party worker accused of taking bribes to clear films by the censor board to welcome and shake hands with Gandhi when he arrived at MMRDA Grounds in BKC on March 1 The allegation has been made by Dr Nackson Natke representative of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee MPCC Natke said it was shocking that Sarvesh Jayswal who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigations CBI five years ago and later booked and chargesheeted was given an access card and introduced to Gandhi by MRCC president Sanjay NirupamSanjay Nirupam with Jayswal MRCC party worker Sarvesh Jayswal who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigations CBI in 2014 seen shaking hands with Rahul Gandhi while Nirupam looks onFavouritism in MRCCWhat is happening in the Mumbai Congress Sincere workers are not being given an opportunity to meet Rahulji but a shady character gets preference only because he is close to the MRCC bosses Natke told midday on SaturdayJayswal the former state Congress committee member and advisory panel member of the Central Board of Film Certification CBFC was arrested in 2014 for allegedly accepting bribes on behalf of CBFC CEO Rakesh Kumar CBFCs authorised agent Shripathi Mishra had also been booked along with Jayswal Based on their confession the CEO was later arrestedNatke demanded action against the officebearers incharge of recommending people lined up behind the dais to welcome Gandhi Absolute favouritism and ruthless attitude This hurt us Our highest leader will be embarrassed when he learns about the incident said NatkeBhushan Patil MRCC general secretary and incharge of Gandhis rally said that the MRCC based on certain criteria such as positions in the party recommended names to the police for further verification In case there are political cases registered against our leaders we give an undertaking to the police that we will be responsible he said But when told about Jayswals case and asked about the position he held in the MRCC he said he would seek more information from his party colleaguesI earned the rightWhen contacted Jayswal argued that he had been falsely implicated in the bribery case The police included my name in the charge sheet though I had proven my innocence If I was not innocent why would the court release me on a bail and personal bond he askedHe said he didnt know about the current status of the case against him Am I infected with a viral disease that doesnt allow me to be in public and party functions What I know is that Im a small yet sincere Congress worker and that alone gives me the right to welcome and meet RahuljiHe said if the complainants wanted the party to apply the same parameters to all then why were senior leaders like an exMRCC president who is accused of corruption and amassing assets disproportionate to the known source of income allowed to share the dais with the Congress president He claimed that the BJP too had top rank leaders who were being tried for serious crimesMRCCs previous shockerThree years ago MRCC embarrassed the party when MRCCs mouthpiece ran injudicious articles on partys icons Jawaharlal Nehru Indira Gandhi and former president Sonia Gandhi The NovemberDecember2015 issues of the Mumbai units mouthpiece Congress Darshan had said that Nehru was to blame for the Kashmir China and Tiber conflicts while another article alleged that Sonias father was a fascist soldier The articles took digs at Nehru and raised questions about his rise as Indias first prime minister and took potshots at Indiras troubled marriage MRCC president Sanjay Nirupam who also edited the mouthpiece was given a reprieve in the caseCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates