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New Delhi: Senior Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Abhishek Manu Singhvi have taken opposing stands over the issue of British MP Debbie Abrahams being denied entry into India, sparking off talks about another public sparring in the party’s top leadership.

On Monday, Abrahams — who has been a critic of the Narendra Modi government’s move to scrap Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir — was denied entry into India on arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi as her visa was found to be “invalid”.

Hours later, Tharoor took to Twitter to say: “If things are fine in #Kashmir, shouldn’t the Govt encourage critics to witness the situation themselves to put their fears to rest? Instead of conducting tours for pliant MEPs &polite Ambassadors alone, surely the head of a ParliamentaryGroup on the subject is worth cultivating? (sic)”

If things are fine in #Kashmir, shouldn't the Govt encourage critics to witness the situation themselves to put their fears to rest? Instead of conducting tours for pliant MEPs &polite Ambassadors alone, surely the head of a ParliamentaryGroup on the subject is worth cultivating? https://t.co/vMtcAXCDb9 — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 17, 2020

On Tuesday morning, Congress leader Singhvi, however, tweeted in favour of the government’s decision.

“The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with e Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India’s sovereignty must be thwarted,” his tweet read.

The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with e Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India's sovereignty must be thwarted.#Kashmir#DebbieAbrahams — Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) February 18, 2020

Also read: From catch-all to catch-none party, it’s still not too late for Congress

Knives out in Congress

Top Congress leaders have been sparring in the public in the last couple of days, especially after the party’s recent drubbing in the Delhi assembly elections.

A day after the election results were announced on 11 February, Delhi Mahila Congress President Sharmistha Mukherjee lashed out at senior leader P. Chidambaram on Twitter after the latter congratulated the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for defeating the BJP in Delhi.

Mukherjee replied to Chidambaram’s tweet by asking if the Congress had “outsourced the task of defeating the BJP”.



With due respect sir, just want to know- has @INCIndia outsourced the task of defeating BJP to state parties? If not, then why r we gloating over AAP victory rather than being concerned abt our drubbing? And if ‘yes’, then we (PCCs) might as well close shop! https://t.co/Zw3KJIfsRx — Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) February 11, 2020

On 16 February, union minister Ajay Maken and Milind Deora locked horns after the latter tweeted lauding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and pointed out how Delhi’s revenues had doubled during the AAP’s last term.

Sharing a lesser known & welcome fact — the @ArvindKejriwal-led Delhi Government doubled its revenues to ₹60,000 crore & maintained a revenue surplus over the last 5 years. Food for thought: Delhi is now one of India’s most fiscally prudent governments pic.twitter.com/bBFjbfYhoC — Milind Deora मिलिंद देवरा (@milinddeora) February 16, 2020

To this, Maken reacted by saying: “Brother,you want to leave @INCIndia-Please do-Then propagate half baked facts!”

Brother,you want to leave @INCIndia-Please do-Then propagate half baked facts! However,let me share even lesser know facts-

1997-98-BE (Revenue) 4,073cr

2013-14-BE (Revenue) 37,459cr

During Congress Govt Grew at 14.87% CAGR 2015-16 BE 41,129

2019-20 BE 60,000

AAP Gov 9.90% CAGR — Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) February 16, 2020

In Madhya Pradesh last week, it was Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia versus Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Reacting to Scindia’s threat of taking to the streets if the Madhya Pradesh government failed to fulfill its poll promises, Nath said the former was free to do so.

Also read: Jamia attack video: Priyanka Gandhi slams MHA, Yechury calls police’s act ‘unconscionable’

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