The day after he sent his resignation to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi, former Karnataka Chief Minister and former External Affairs Minister SM Krishna hit out at the party for sidelining him because of his age.
“I have been with the Congress for 46 years, and whatever challenges we faced, my loyalty never changed. But today, I am hurt,” the senior leader told media persons.
Tired and emotional, SM Krishna said, “Politicians never retire, they just fade away,” inspired by a quote by General MacArthur. But the old Congressman did not elaborate on what his future plans are.
When asked about whether he would reconsider his decision if Sonia Gandhi asked him to, he clearly refused. “This is a matter of my pride and self respect,” Krishna said.
Clearly miffed at being sidelined, SM Krishna said he has been disillusioned with the party since 2012, when the UPA removed him from the post of External Affairs Minister in a reshuffle. “There is a way of getting rid of political leaders. I think the Congress should learn the art of being graceful in whatever they do,” Krishna said.
“They could have called me and told me that they are considering a reshuffle. It would have been a graceful exit,” he added, still smarting from the 4-year-old insult.
On more than one occasion, Krishna snubbed Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, saying he doesn’t have to comment about ‘Vice Presidents or General Secretaries’. “My seniority dictates that I deal with the President, not the Vice President,” Krishna said.
"Today, I feel the Congress is in a dilemma about whether they need leaders who have a connect with the people. They feel they only need managers," Krishna accused.