Abdul Khaleque Reverses Resignation Following High-Level Congress Talks
Desk Report, March 20, 2024: In a significant turn of events, Abdul Khaleque, Member of Parliament from Barpeta, has rescinded his resignation from the Indian National Congress. Following discussions with senior party figures Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday, Khaleque made the decision public, affirming his commitment to the Congress.
“I am withdrawing my resignation. I was in Congress, I still am and will continue to remain in the party. I never questioned the ideals of the Congress or Soniaji, I just spoke what was in my heart,” Khaleque stated as he announced his reversal.
Acknowledging the outreach from KC Venugopal, Sonia Gandhi’s office, and Mallikarjun Kharge, Khaleque expressed gratitude and attributed his decision to their persuasive efforts.
Earlier in the day, Khaleque held a meeting with former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, emphasizing his unwavering trust in her leadership. Post-meeting, Khaleque disclosed that he extensively discussed the issues he had raised with Sonia Gandhi, receiving assurances from the central leadership regarding their resolution.
Speaking to the media, Khaleque shared, “I met Madam Sonia Gandhi today. We had a very fruitful discussion. I told her what I had on my mind. I will not comment on whether I will again rejoin the Congress party or not. Whatever I had written on my resignation letter, I discussed the same things with Sonia Gandhi ji.”
Responding to queries about his electoral plans, Khaleque confirmed his non-participation in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, dispelling speculations regarding independent candidacy.
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The decision to withdraw his resignation follows a sequence of events triggered by Khaleque’s announcement last Saturday in Guwahati, where he cited various concerns influencing his departure from the Congress.
“In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, I was one of only three Muslim MPs. We have some leaders among us who have this notion that if there are Muslims, Congress will survive. When Ghulam Nabi Azad was awarded the Padma Bhushan, there were many leaders within the party who were not very pleased. Everyone has self-respect, that’s what I have always said,” Khaleque had stated, shedding light on the internal dynamics of the party.
Highlighting the imperative for Muslim representation in Assam, Khaleque emphasized the need for allocating parliamentary seats to Muslim candidates in proportion to the state’s Muslim populace, which stands at 34 per cent.
“In Assam, tickets need to be given to 4-5 Muslims. Assam has a Muslim population of 34 per cent and politics in Assam revolves around these Muslims. All parties, including BJP, Congress, and AIUDF, engage in politics targeting Muslims,” Khaleque asserted.
With tensions somewhat alleviated following Khaleque’s decision to retract his resignation, the Congress appears to be navigating internal challenges while striving to maintain unity and cohesion within its ranks.
