Cong’s gen-next leaders lazy: Jaitley

Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley today criticised the fourth generation of Congress leaders as ‘‘lethargic’’ and blamed the Gandhi family for crippling the rise of a second-level leadership in the party. Jaitley, who addressed a press conference in Margao along with BJP candidate Ramakant Angle, said it has long been concluded that the Congress cannot deliver with the kind of leaders it has at the moment.‘‘During the time of Pandit Nehru, there were leaders of stature at the Centre as well as in the states. But the same leadership was crushed so that there is no challenge to the family hegemony. The first generation of Congress leaders were enthusiastic, whereas the fourth generation is lethargic,’’ Jaitley said. ‘‘Now, only such leaders are allowed to flourish with whom the family is comfortable,’’ he added. The BJP, on the other hand, has made a conscious effort to create a second-rung leadership in the party, the minister said. Citing the example of Sushma Swaraj, Jaitley said that she can get elected from anywhere. Last time she was asked to contest from Bellary and she secured more than four lakh votes, he added.