AK Antony's son quits Congress after slamming BBC series on Modi: ‘…chamchas’
AK Antony's son resigned from his Congress roles a day after he took a different stance on the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said he was asked to remove his tweet on BBC by those who ‘fight for free speech’.
Congress leader Anil K Antony, son of former Union minister AK Antony, resigned from the Congress a day after he slammed the BBC documentary on PM Modi -- India: The Modi Question. The Congress leader said he was facing "intolerant calls" to retract his tweet to which he did not give in. Instead, he gave his resignation letter on Wednesday. In his tweet, he said his Facebook wall was flooded with hate/abuses by 'ones supporting a trek to promote love' -- implying Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra.
"Considering the events from yesterday, I believe it would be appropriate for me to leave all my roles in the Congress," Anil wrote in his resignation letter relinquishing his duty both as the convener of the KPCC digital media and also the national co-ordinator of the Congress social media and digital communication cell.
In his resignation letter, he said he was made aware that 'the coterie around the leadership' is keen to work with a bunch of 'sycophants and chamchas'. "Sadly, we don't have much common ground," he wrote.
"I am sure that I have my own unique strengths which could have enabled me to contribute very effectively to the party in several ways. However, by now I have been made well aware that you, your colleagues and the coterie around the leadership are only keen to work with a bunch of sycophants and chamchas, who would unquestionably be at your beck and call. This has become the lone criterion of merit. Sadly, we don't have much common ground," his letter read.
Amid the raging controversy over the documentary on 2002 Gujarat riots, critical of then chief minister Narendra Modi, Anil Antony on Tuesday said he considers BBC as a state-sponsored channel with a long history of prejudices. He called former UK foreign secretary Jack Straw -- who appeared in the first part of the documentary and told about the 'secret' investigation that the then UK government undertook -- the brain behind the Iraq war.
“Despite large differences with BJP, I think those in India placing views of BBC, a UK state-sponsored channel with a long history of prejudices, and of Jack Straw, the brain behind the Iraq war, over Indian institutions is setting a dangerous precedence, will undermine our sovereignty,” he tweeted on Tuesday.
