Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday chose the AICC venue to rekindle the hopes of party cadres’ sagging morale after the massive poll debacle in the recent Assembly elections.
Ahead of the General Elections, a combative Rahul mounted a blistering attack on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, though without naming him, saying those dreaming about Congress-free India will themselves be wiped out.
Rahul said the Congress is a “thought”, which cannot be erased. “Whoever has tried to do it, has himself got destroyed,” he asserted. Rahul accused the BJP of igniting communal hatred and setting people against each other and sought support of all like-minded political and social forces to come together at “this critical juncture”.
Starting with his pet subject — RTI, Rahul in his 45-minute spirited address to the party delegates from across the country, also sought to end the debate over projecting him as the PM candidate saying the party has the tradition of PM being elected by MPs.
Giving a battle cry for the upcoming lok Sabha elections, Rahul said the Congress is ready for the tough challenge ahead and “we will not stop till the battle is won”.
Setting new norms for ticket distribution, Rahul, who will lead the Congress campaign, said party hoppers will not be given tickets but will go to those who have “Congress in their blood”. He said tickets for 15 lok Sabha seats will be given on the basis of feedback from local units and if the experiment works, it will be expanded to legislatures.
Referring to the lok Sabha polls, he said, “It is not just another election, it is a turning point in our nation’s journey.” He said the question now was not whether the party should change but when and how. “The change around us is unstoppable,” he said, adding the Congress is already responding to the increasing demand for change.
“Unlike others, we do not respond by complaining but solving issues. Unlike others, we do not respond by blocking Parliament day after day, year after year. Unlike others, we do not respond by turning people against people and by lighting fires of communal hatred. We do not respond by handing over the structure of democracy to one person. Congress responds by democracy,” he said clearly indicating BJP as his target.
Seeking to widen the party’s reach, he spoke on issues related to the youth, women, downtrodden sections and a new constituency of people who have risen above the poverty line and are aspiring to be part of the middle class, saying he would fight for their cause.