Senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik has come out in strong defence of the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s recent interview to a national TV channel stating that Indian political system needs fundamental reform. Patnaik slammed those making a hue and cry over Rahul’s interview and called the diatribe against the leader as ‘misplaced and aimed at irrational politicising.’
Patnaik said, “Rahul Gandhi is an honest, and different politician, and needless to mention his words and gestures reflect that amply. This TV interview was no different and I am aghast to see the hullaballoo around this.”
He further stated that, “I thought his argument was matured and sophisticated and should be understood with an open and progressive mind. If he is not waving a magic wand, it is out of basic honesty and depth of understanding.” lauding the innovations that the party has undertaken recently, Patnaik said Congress’s decision to hold primaries for selection of candidates in 15 Parliamentary Constituencies for 2014 elections is a proof of concept. “A time will come when party tickets for any constituency will be decided not by Delhi or Bhubaneswar, but by the party supporters of that constituency,” said Patnaik.