Indore, July 10 (IANS) Amid speculation over differing public statements by senior Congress leaders on the alleged Ujjain land deal, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and Madhya Pradesh In-charge Harish Chaudhary on Friday asserted that State Congress Chief Jitu Patwari’s allegations against Chief Minister Mohan Yadav represented the party’s official stand, while former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh’s remarks on the issue were made in his personal capacity.

During a press conference to attack the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government over the donation theft issue at Ram temple in Ayodhya, Chaudhary said Patwari had spoken at an official Congress briefing and, therefore, his allegations reflected the party’s position.

“Jitu Patwari’s press conference was an official Congress press conference. Whatever he said regarding the alleged land scam is the Congress party’s official stand. If there are any discrepancies in facts or figures, other leaders have the right to express their views, but Jitu Patwari’s statement remains the party’s official position,” Chaudhary said, responding to a question on Digvijaya Singh differing from Patwari’s statement recently.

The clarification comes days after Patwari accused the BJP government of transferring government land in Ujjain, allegedly worth around Rs 500 crore, to Bharat Nyas for Rs 1.

The BJP has rejected the allegations, calling them “baseless” and “politically motivated”.

A day after the State Congress Chief’s press conference, Digvijaya Singh addressed a separate media interaction in Ujjain, where his remarks on the issue appeared to differ from Patwari’s presentation, triggering speculation over differences within the State Congress.

Seeking to put an end to the speculation, Chaudhary said Digvijaya Singh’s press conference was not an official Congress programme.

“Digvijaya Singh’s press conference was his personal press conference. Likewise, his proposed padyatra is also his personal programme. He himself has stated that it is not a Congress programme,” he added.

When asked whether he would participate in Digvijaya Singh’s proposed foot march from Ujjain to Adhiya, Chaudhary said, “It is not a Congress march. He himself has clarified that it is not a political march.”

The controversy has also taken a legal turn, with Bharat Nyas issuing a legal notice to Patwari over his allegations, demanding that he withdraw his statements and apologise.

The trust has denied the allegations and maintained that the land transaction was carried out in accordance with the law.

Chaudhary’s remarks are being seen as an attempt by the Congress leadership to close ranks behind its state unit chief after the differing statements by Patwari and Digvijaya Singh fuelled political speculation over the party’s campaign against the BJP-led state government.

–IANS

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