In a strict warning to the warring Congress leaders in Punjab, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asked them to sing the tune of harmony, or face music.
Besides asking the senior leadership to work “in unison” for the party, the Congress leader also asked them to reach out to the people and take up “their issues” to the streets protesting against the SAD-BJP led State Government in Punjab.
Underlining that block level is the most significant pillar of the party organisation for being in direct touch with the grass root and people, Rahul asked the senior leadership to give them full respect and take them along.
He also asked to put in place a system to hold monthly meetings of the district and block level party units. Introducing in Punjab as a pilot project, he has asked to hold block level Congress committee meeting on the first Saturday of every month, while asking the district Congress committee to hold meeting on second Saturday of every month.
“In case, any leader, no matter how senior he may be, remained absent from these meetings for thrice in a row, will be shown the door,” a senior Congress leader told The Pioneer, requesting anonymity.
Rahul Gandhi, on a day’s visit to the city to hold back-to-back meetings with the party workers and senior leaders of the Punjab Congress to strengthen the “demoralized” state unit, also asked to launch ‘Save Punjab Campaign’ against drugs from November 14.
Giving clear indications that he would not even mind initiating strict action if needed against any leader detrimental to party interests, it has been learnt that Rahul told a congress leader that he would do everything whatever was needed.
His response came when a several party leaders, including block presidents, raised the issue of factionalism within the party and how it was affecting the party’s prospects in the state resulting in one defeat after another.
A former legislator, pointing at the level of infighting in Congress, said that almost all senior leaders are against each other while eyeing the post of chief minister. He pointed that their this attitude was costing dear to the party damaging the party’s interests, and asked Rahul to act strict against them in case things don’t improve.
Without taking any names, couple of leaders also pointed how several campaigns launched by the party against the ruling combine were deflated by the some of the senior leaders.
Sending across a clear message that party organization is “above all”, Rahul Gandhi asked the leaders to work as per its directions.
He asked the leader to work in unison, unless they should get prepared to sit in the opposition.
“He asked to take up issues related with people, their problems and work for them. He asked to tap the sufferers of the government and want all the leaders to move together…He pointed that the p-arty is not raising people’s issues,” said the Congress leader.
It was decided that the party should vigorously take up the four important issues - drugs, corruption, law and order, and police atrocities. “He has asked to take the protest against the government to the streets and involve maximum people,” the leader added.