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Rediff.com  » News » Arjun Singh pledges loyalty to Gandhi family

Arjun Singh pledges loyalty to Gandhi family

By Onkar Singh in New Delhi
May 11, 2008 17:35 IST
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Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh, who was given a royal snub by president of the Congress party at a function in Vigyan Bhavan for raising the demand that Rahul Gandhi should be made prime minister of India, issued a one-page statement on Sunday afternoon pledging his loyality to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his family members.

Voices within the Congress party had alleged that Arjun has shown utter disrespect to the party high command by making remarks against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"I am pained at the needless and irrelevant controversies that are sought to be raised in the book published by Dr K L Nanadanji and presented to the Hon'ble President of India on May 9, 2008. I have no desire to join issue with any one on this matter and I respect the views of all my colleaguues, who have thought it proper to comment on it," Arjun said in his statement.

He clarified that he was still writing his autobiography, which would be published at a future date.

"Some press reports have said that this is my autobiography. This book is, in fact, a compilation of articles already been published and Granth presented them to me on April 27, 2005," he clarified.

"I shall also do everything to maintain loyalty and commitment to the remaining members of the Gandhi family," Arjun said.

Interestingly, Arjun neither mentioned Sonia Gandhi or Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by name. In fact he refrained from mentioning the name of Rahul Gandhi in the letter as well.

He promised that he would be available to newsmen, but the above mentioned subject as far as he was concerned is a closed chapter.

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Onkar Singh in New Delhi