Minister lambasts Congress leaders' attitude

Kochi, May 27 (UNI) Union Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi today sought a change in the attitude of Congressmen who increasingly placed themselves above the party, contributing to the debacle in the recent Assembly elections.

Addressing a meeting here to pay homage to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his 42nd death anniversary, the senior Congress leader criticised the leaders who thought themselves to be above the party.

''There is no point in increasing office-bearers. Instead, the number of workers should go up. It is time for ideological debates in the party rather than bickerings,'' he said.

He said the increased incidents of rebel menace also contributed to the debacle and affirmed the party would be able to survive the present crisis to stage a comeback.

Mr Ravi said the downfall cannot batter a democratic party like the Congress which will make a comeback, but wanted an overhaul in basic attitude.

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