Names missing from condolence resolution irk Congmen

The failure of the AICC to include former president K R Narayanan in its condolence resolution led to protests from Kerala delegates at the Hyderabad Plenary on Sunday. The first item on the day8217;s agenda was to condole the deaths of Congressmen. Margaret Alva moved the resolution, and started with P V Narasimha Rao, and went on to talk about Madhavrao Scindia, P M Sayeed and a host of other leaders.

As the former president was not mentioned, Talekkunnil Basheer and Kodikkunnil Suresh, Congress members from Kerala, protested. Alva, however, did not appear to understand what they were saying. Former Kerala CM A K Antony, who was on the dais, explained the issue to Ambika Soni, who passed on a note to Alva. Alva recovered her poise and in an impromptu tribute to the former president, recalled that he had risen from the humblest of beginnings to the highest office of the country. She took note of his contributions to education and diplomacy but failed to mention that he was elected to LS on Congress ticket several times and was a Union minister as well. Former minister Sunil Dutt did not find mention in the condolence resolution.