Jaiswal's 'remote-control' remark sparks controversy

New Delhi, Feb 10: Union Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal's comment that Rahul Gandhi will remote control the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh kicked up a political controversy today with BJP targeting Congress style of governance and AICC saying it was ignorant about the remark.

"I do not know about it. I cannot approve or disapprove a statement that I have not seen," party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary said when asked about Jaiswal's remark. However, a party leader speaking on condition of anonymity, downplayed the remarks saying such things happen in the middle of elections.

The opposition BJP took a dig at Congress over Jaiswal's remarks with the party spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi saying, "Congress has now become a master in running governments through remote control. The remote of the central government is also in the hands of the super Prime Minister. He said he was not surprised at Jaiswal's statement on Rahul running the next Uttar Pradesh government through remote control as Congress was already running Uttar Pradesh government for the last eight years - be it Samajwadi Party government or Bahujan Samaj Party.

Exuding confidence that Congress will have the next government in Uttar Pradesh, Jaiswal yesterday said Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the campaign to bring the party back to power in the state, will monitor the functioning of the party's next government. "Whoever becomes Chief Minister, the remote will be in Rahulji's hands," he had remarked.

PTI