Mumbai Congress journal editor sacked after saying Sonia Gandhi's father had fascist links

In perhaps an inevitable fallout to the massive embarrassment Congress party faced when party mouthpiece said Sonia Gandhi's father has fascist links, now the editor has been sacked.

Content editor Sudhir Joshi has faced the boot and Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam has apologised for the article.

An article published by the party's Mumbai unit earlier caused stir for blaming Jawaharlal Nehru for the state of affairs in Kashmir, China and Tibet.  

The article in the December issue of 'Congress Darshan' said that Sonia Gandhi's father was a member of the fascist forces in Italy, adding that Sonia Gandhi registered as a primary member of the Congress in 1997 and became the party’s president in 62 days.

The article, which does not bear the name of the writer, had been published in the Hindi edition as a tribute piece to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's death anniversary on December 15.

According to a report published in a leading tabloid, the article stated that Nehru should have listened to freedom fighter and former home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s views on international affairs.

After the controversy broke, Congress readily disassociated itself from the views of the article. Now content editor has faced the axed.

The article also stated that, despite Patel getting the post of deputy prime minister and home minister, the relations between the two leaders remained strained, and both had threatened to resign time and again. If Nehru had embraced Patel's foresight, many problems in international affairs would not have arisen, it adds.

The article also cited a letter that Patel reportedly wrote in 1950 to caution Nehru against China's policy towards Tibet where "Patel described China as unfaithful, and a future enemy of India."

“Had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been heard then (by Nehru), the problems of Kashmir, China, Tibet and Nepal wouldn’t have existed now. Patel opposed Nehru’s move of taking the Kashmir issue to the UNO,” stated the article, adding, “Nehru did not agree with Patel’s views on Nepal.”

Congress Mumbai chief Sanjay Nirupam on Monday apologised for criticism and said that action would be taken against the people responsible in the editorial team.

"Some words that have been used in some articles of 'Congress Darshan' are certainly objectionable. I accept the mistake. Action will be taken against people in editorial team who are responsible for this mistake," Nirpuam said.