Nehru-Gandhi family has given 'stellar leadership' in times of adversity, victory: Congress

New Delhi, Jun 2: Amid growing attacks against

and

in the wake of the worst electoral debacle suffered by

, the party on Monday stood firmly behind them saying the Nehru-Gandhi family has provided "stellar leadership" both in times of adversity and victory.

Dismissing the notion of any bickering within its ranks, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala dubbed the critics as "one or two disgruntled elements who helped BJP in the parliamentary polls".

Accusing them of carrying forward "similar agenda" they carried prior to the polls, he said state units will take appropriate action against them.

His remarks came close on the heels of the Kerala and Rajasthan units suspending party leaders -- T H Mustafa and Bhanwar Lal Sharma -- for attacking Rahul and dubbing him as "joker" and "MD of Congress circus" respectively.

Surjewala also said some of them were suspended earlier too. There is absolutely no question of any disenchantment or disrespect against the Congress leadership, he said.

Surjewala said Sonia and Rahul had, on their own, individually and collectively accepted their responsibility for the debacle in the Congress Working Committee.

He said the party has rewritten agenda for the country and many times reinvented "ourselves" and became the voice of the people.

"The Nehru-Gandhi family has seen the party through good and bad times. They have provided a stellar leadership both in times of adversity and victory," the spokesperson said.

Surjewala stressed that the party, under the leadership of Sonia and Rahul, "will continue to play the role of nation building and reinvent ourselves to once again become the voice of people".

The entire rank and file of the Congress "love, respect and cherish the leadership of both Sonia and Rahul," he said.

PTI