Congress gives no importance to Hansraj Bhardwaj's attack on Sonia Gandhi

Congress on Friday gave no importance to senior leader Hans Raj Bhardwaj's direct attack on Sonia Gandhi merely noting that he should have "abstained" from making such comments at this phase of his life.

"Bhardwaj is a very senior leader of the party and the country. Five times he was a member of the Rajya Sabha and had been Law Minister in the UPA and later Governor."

"We do not understand at this age why he should have come out with these comments...He should have abstained from making such comments," Congress spokesperson Rita Bahuguna Joshi told reporters while responding to a volley of questions on the issue.

She sidestepped questions on any disciplinary action against Bhardwaj who has alleged that Gandhi "shared no responsibility" and was in the "grip of sycophants and corrupt people".

77-year-old Bhardwaj had created a flutter in the party by his remarks that "It is a matter of great sorrow that our leaders are getting summons from the court... Those at the top level including at the level of the Prime Minister.

"Does Sonia Gandhi not understand what happened, why it happened and who did it? Everything is known. That is the style. Sharing no responsibility and yet do everything," he had said.

Bhardwaj was not included in the UPA-II after being the Law Minister in the UPA-I and was made Governor of Karnataka.

His remarks came at a time when there is a tussle between the old guard and the generation next amid growing talk that Rahul Gandhi would be anointed soon.