Congress President Elections: “Remote-Control President an Insult to Stature of Contestants:” Rahul Gandhi

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Oct 8: Strongly reacting to the suggestion that the new Congress president would be remote-controlled by the Gandhis, the former national president of the party Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said such remarks were an insult to the candidates who were “people of stature and standing.”

Talking to media persons during the Karnataka-leg of the “Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Gandhi said whosoever was elected the Congress president would have a free hand in taking decisions and running the party the way he deemed fit. “Both the nominees contesting for Congress presidential elections have a position as well as their own perspectives. To call anyone a ‘remote control’ is insulting to both of them.”

“First of all there is an election taking place (and) I don’t want to give an opinion on this position. Both candidates are people of stature and standing. Frankly, I think such claims are insulting to both of them,” the Congress leader said in his first remarks on the election since its nomination process was over.

He was responding to a question on the candidates being remotely controlled by the Gandhi family.

However, in a dig at the BJP where the prime minister Narendra Modi’s is the last word for the party, Mr Gandhi said, “We are not a fascist party. We are a party that believes in conversation and we welcome different viewpoints. We do know that in order to win elections we will have to work as a team.” He emphasised that holding discussions among the party leadership did not mean remote-control on the functional head of the party.

After a gap of 22 years, elections to Congress President’s post will be held on October 17 with former union ministers Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor are fighting for the top post. Counting of votes will be taken up on October 19 and the result expected to be announced the same day. Senior Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were also present at the media session.

On the Centre’s ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI), Gandhi said it did not matter who was spreading hatred, nor the community they hailed from. “Spreading hatred is an anti-national act and we will fight everyone who does that,” he said. “Our constitution states: Bharat is a union of states. It means all our languages, states and traditions have an equally important space. That is the nature of our country. Spreading hatred and violence in the country is an anti-national act. We will fight anybody who spreads hatred and violence,” he added.

Targeting the BJP, Mr Gandhi said: “The BJP is singularly dividing the nation and spreading hatred in this nation. Spreading hatred and diving the nation are not things that help the nation. That is why we are doing the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. And let me tell you, it’s not just me who is doing the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. There are lakhs and lakhs of people who are doing the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. He also said the people of India are tired of the kind of politics being propagated by the BJP, they are tired of price rise and unemployment.

Gandhi said the nationwide march was a form of “tapasya” (penance). “I believe in tapasya. In this communication with people, (I wanted) an element of suffering for myself. I did not want it to be easy,” he said. During the yatra, there is a realisation about the distance that has developed between the political class and the citizens.

“I find it (yatra) to be a very powerful experience. When you are walking on the road and talking to people who suffered, the communication is better,” he said, adding that people were keen to share their thoughts when they met him.

He did not see anything wrong in the Congress government in Rajasthan accepting an offer from Modi’s industrialist friend Gautam Adani to invest over Rs 60,000 crores in that state. Clarifying that his position “was against monopoly and not investment,” Gandhi said the Rajasthan government had not given preferential treatment to the industrialist. The Congress government did not use political power to help him, Gandhi said, adding that his opposition was to the BJP government ‘s “policy of helping two (or) three people monopolise every single business.”

“I am not against business or corporates. I am against complete monopolisation of Indian businesses. Today BJP has done complete monopolisation of all business by helping a few people. If a political system ventures to help two or three people it will damage the country. My contention is against the abuse of political power to help a few,” Gandhi said.

Sharing the stage with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, industrialist Gautam Adani had on Friday announced an investment of ₹ 65,000 crore in the state. This included setting up a 10,000 MW solar power facility, expanding a cement plant, and upgrading the Jaipur International Airport over the next five to seven years.

“Combining all ongoing and future investments, we anticipate investing an additional ₹ 65,000 crore in Rajasthan over the next five to seven years and creating over 40,000 direct and indirect jobs,” he said while making the announcement at the “Invest Rajasthan 2022 Summit” in Jaipur.

Mr Adani said his group is working with the state government on two more projects. “We will set up two medical colleges and hospitals in the districts where there are no such facilities, and we will also support the state government to build a cricket stadium in Udaipur,” he said, adding that discussions are on with the Chief Minister.

In his address, Mr Gehlot referred to Mr Adani as “Gautam bhai” and praised his business acumen.  “Gujarat has produced great industrialist and businessmen like Dhirubhai Ambani and Gautam bhai now,” Mr Gehlot said.

As the photos of Mr Adani and Mr Gehlot emerged, the BJP attacked the rival party for cosying up to an industrialist Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly attacked. “The opponent is a friend today. They have changed their way with the hope of getting money,” tweeted BJP state president Satish Poonia.

“In another sign of revolt and brewing discontent against the Gandhis, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot invites Gautam Adani for the investor summit. He is given a seat right next to the CM. This is an open message to Rahul Gandhi, who doesn’t tire (of) berating Adani-Ambani, to back off…,” tweeted Amit Malviya, BJP’s IT cell chief.

Hours before the summit, Rahul Gandhi put up a tweet saying the centre was waving loans amounting to several crore rupees of “capitalist friends” while others are facing hardships. “Two Indias in one country. We will not accept this division,” he tweeted.

Responding to BJP’s criticism, Mr Gehlot tweeted, “I do not understand why the BJP opposed this programme. You oppose Ashok Gehlot, but why are you opposing the work being done for the bright future of Rajasthan?” He said Rajasthan will welcome all those who want to invest in the state. “Be it Gautam Adani, Mukesh Ambani or Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah, we will welcome all because we want employment and investment,” Mr Gehlot said.