Bengaluru: More or less than a year ago, the Supreme Court observed that “dissent is the safety-valve of democracy” in relation to the arrest of five human rights activists in Bhima-Koregaon violence case.

At that point in time, the Congress party eulogised the judgment, saying dissent is the essence of democracy.

Now, cut to the present. Three prominent Congress leaders — Jairam Ramesh, Shashi Tharoor and Abhishek Singhvi have openly batted against ‘demonising’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

But the reactions from the Congress, were antithetical to the very cause it tries to espouse.

Also read: Congressmen realise by demonising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they demonise themselves

First on the list is the way the Kerala unit of the Congress reacted to MP Tharoor’s observation. The president of Kerala Congress Mullapally Ramachandran even sought an explanation from him.

And in Karnataka, another senior leader Veerappa Moily lambasted Ramesh for his statements on the prime minister. Irked and angered, Moily even went to the extent of saying that Ramesh was the chief architect in UPA 2’s terrible policymaking.

He said, “He (Ramesh) is responsible for policy paralysis of our government (UPA 2) and he is also responsible for compromising the principles of governance many a time.”

Moily also termed Tharoor “immature” and sought action against the two leaders.

When a party prides itself in the fact that it respects views of all, it is an irony that dissenters within the party are viewed with scorn.

Vamanacharya, a BJP spokesperson said, “Democratically, we feel there are sensible people in the Congress as well. But they are caught in a trap and they are not allowed to speak the truth. Shashi Tharoor and the like have expressed their opinions on the issue of PM being targeted. What’s wrong with it? It is not at all anti-Congress. It only shows the hypocrisy of the party.”