Senior Congress leader, and former Union minister and former governor of Karnataka, Hans Raj Bhardwaj made a direct attack on party president Sonia Gandhi, alleging that she "shared no responsibility" and was in the "grip of sycophants and corrupt people". "Does Sonia Gandhi not understand what happened, why it happened and who did it? Everything is known. That is the style. Sharing no responsibility and yet do everything," Mr Bhardwaj told. “Sonia threw me out of Congress. Those around her threw me out as a minister because I wouldn’t toe their line in the 2G case,” Bhardwaj said. “Congress has gone down because of these leaders who were involved in scams.” “It is a matter of great sorrow that our leaders are getting summons from the court. Those at the top level including at the level of the Prime Minister,” he added.

The 77-year-old, once known to be a Gandhi family loyalist, alleged that Mrs Gandhi was "in the grip of couple of sycophants and corrupt people". Bhardwaj said: "People are not ready to listen any more. Congress won't rise again. Congress is responsible. "Aur main us bechari (Sonia Gandhi) ko koi dosh nahin deta (And I don't blame that helpless lady)," he said. "The new forces are very strong. There are three to four leaders, they only decide what is right and what is wrong," Bhardwaj said. "And Congress took the senior experienced leaders by the ear and took them out. Imagine the amount of foul play when a man like (former prime minister) Manmohan Singh is summoned by a court," Bhardwaj said.

By Premji