The resignation of UP Congress Minority Cell chief Siraj Mehndi, soon after Rahul Gandhi appointed young Nadeem Javed of Jaunpur as the new All India Minority Cell president of Congress sparked sharp criticism from senior leaders. 

They claimed Mehndi's resignation as a matter gross indiscipline and demanded action against him. 

"Mehndi was vice-president of UPCC for the last so many years and was also holding the post of state UPCC Minority Cell chief since December 2014. Just because, Nadeem Javed was appointed as All India Minority Cell chief, Mehndi resigned citing 'one person, one post' theory was nothing but an open revolt against the party leadership,” said a senior Congress leader.

"Some seniors including a former minister were punished on the allegations that they made statement directly to the media then why was Mehndi not issued a notice for his indiscipline of sending his letter of resignation to the media,” the leader questioned.

"Mehndi had done nothing in the last four years. He knows that Nadeem Javed, who also hails from Jaunpur, is aware of his performance. Hence, before being shunted out by the new Minority Cell chief, Mehndi tried to create a controversy by resigning minutes after the new All India Minority Cell chief was appointed," said the leader. 

The leader further said that Mehndi claimed in his resignation that one leader should not remain on one post for more than three years and pave way for others then why did he not resign from the post of vice-president of the UPCC where he has completed several years. 

Sources said that as Mehndi and Nadeem Javed hail from Jaunpur and were not on even keel, hence to show his anger Mehndi preferred to resign before he was shown the door by the new Minority Cell president.

Nadeem Javed (41) is a former MlA from Jaunpur Sadar. His appointment is being seen as part of the Congress strategy to push young faces and infuse new life into the party ahead of 2019 lok Sabha elections. A Mass communication graduate from Delhi University, Nadeem represents his party on national news channels as media panelist.