NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday issued a notice to its senior leader Sanjay Nirupam over controversial references to Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the party mouthpiece published by its Mumbai unit last month.

The publication of the articles in 'Congress Darshan' ahead of the party's 131st foundation day had caused a major embarrassment for the party as they questioned Nehru's policy on Kashmir and China, and claimed that Sonia's father was a "fascist soldier" in Italy.

Sources said the notice to the senior leader is a serious matter since it has been issued by the disciplinary committee of the All India Congress Committee. Nirupam had blamed the faux pa on his opponents in the party unit.

Interestingly, Nirupam is busy planning the visit of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to Mumbai on Thursday. Given that Rahul will be in the city for two days, insiders say Nirupam may get away with a reprimand and advice for caution in future.

Nirupam, who is also the editor of Congress Darshan, had earlier apologised for what he described as an "irreparable mistake". He also sacked the publication's editorial content coordinator Sudhir Joshi, a freelance journalist.

'Congress Darshan' was launched during the tenure of Kripashankar Singh as Mumbai party chief from 2007-2011 to sensitise workers and supporters on the party's policies and legacy.

The journal was discontinued four years ago before being revived this year by Nirupam, a former journalist himself.

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