Sonia ‘stays’ appointment of new chief for minority cell

The AICC minority department headed by Imran-ur-Rehman Kidwai today shot a fax in this regard to UP Congress headquarters. The letter was marked to Joshi and a copy of it was marked to the former head of UP Congress minority department Maroof Khan.

In the letter,Kidwai said,“I have discussed the matter regarding UP minority department with the Congress president and she has stayed the appointment of Shri Moid Ahmad till the organisational elections are over. Therefore,Maroof Khan would continue as chairman of the UP minority department.”

The senior leaders of the three departments and cells of UP Congress Committee were reshuffled on February 15,following which the former heads of two departments — minority and OBC — raised objections alleging that the regular procedure to appoint new heads was not followed. The complaint was also made to the respective department heads in AICC. The chairman of AICC minority as well as OBC department claimed that they were not taken into confidence before the appointments were made.

Interestingly,Joshi had then said that the party high command had been taken into confidence before arriving at the decision.

On the fax report,Joshi said: “The fax has not yet been brought to my knowledge. Before commenting on it,I will have to go through the order and talk to my secretary as well as general secretary in-charge in AICC.”

Speaking to The Indian Express from Delhi,Kidwai said: “There is no complication or confrontation between AICC and UPCC. I met the Congress chief today and she has stayed the appointment till organisational elections are over.

The AICC minority department chief added: “There are certain rules in the organisation according to which,new heads are not appointed during the organisational election process.”

Meanwhile,soon after the letter arrived,Maroof Khan announced that a programme will be organised by the UP Congress minority department on February 22 to mark the death anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

“As the letter has come today,I will resume office on Monday and will start preparations for the (February 22) programme,” Maroof told The Indian Express. There is,however,no word on the appointment of Sidh Gopal Sahu as OBC department chairman in place of Vinod Chaudhary. Chaudhary also made his representation in Delhi but is awaiting a response.