The divide within the Congress over the Narendra Modi government conferring Padma Bhushan on Ghulam Nabi Azad was out in the open on Wednesday, with former Union Minister Kapil Sibal claiming that it is ironic that the Congress does not need Mr Azad’s services but the nation recognises his contributions to public life.
The Congress officially maintained a careful silence on the issue but many from the Congress’ group of 23 leaders [G-23] – the group that wrote to party chief Sonia Gandhi in 2020, seeking internal reforms – made a political point by welcoming the move on social media platforms.
