Rahul Gandhi asks Maharashtra Congress leaders to stand firmly by party ideology

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, September 2, urged newly appointed district-level party leaders in Maharashtra to remain firmly committed to the Congress ideology and work to ensure justice for the people.

Gandhi, who is also a martial arts practitioner, attended a 10-day training camp for district Congress presidents near Nashik and demonstrated karate and jujutsu before the participants.

Jujutsu is a traditional Japanese martial art and close-combat system that uses holds, throws and strikes to overcome an opponent.

Congress Working Committee member Arif Naseem Khan said Gandhi met the newly elected district presidents as well as their families and emphasised the need for them to remain committed to the party's ideology.

"He gave them the message that they should stand solidly with the ideology of the Congress and fight to ensure that people get justice," Khan said.

Gandhi arrived in Nashik in the morning, where he met senior Maharashtra Congress leaders and interacted with tribal students before proceeding to the training camp.

A Congress functionary said Gandhi interacted with district unit presidents for around two hours. He also demonstrated jujitsu and karate and spoke about the importance of developing mental and physical strength.

The training programme for the newly appointed district Congress chiefs concluded on Wednesday in Gandhi's presence.

During his one-day visit, Gandhi reviewed the party's organisational preparedness, met senior state leaders and tribal representatives, and interacted with the newly appointed district presidents.

The Maharashtra Congress appointed 69 new district and city presidents in May as part of its organisational revamp.

Wednesday's visit was Gandhi's second trip to Maharashtra since August 22, when he attended the Pune leg of the "Chhatron Ki Goonj" student movement. The campaign has focused on issues including paper leaks, examination irregularities and rising education fees.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said state Congress leaders discussed "current important issues" in the state with Gandhi during his visit.

Among the issues raised was the exclusion of more than 2.06 crore electors from Maharashtra's draft electoral roll following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, Chavan said.

Budgetary allocations for the Nashik Kumbh Mela, scheduled to begin in October, and inflation were also discussed.

"For the kumbh mela, the focus is on paying 40 per cent commission to some people," Chavan alleged.

"We also discussed issues like farmer suicides in Maharashtra and farmers' opposition to the Rs one lakh crore Shaktipeeth highway," he said.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders staged a protest in Nashik against Gandhi's visit, accusing the Congress of opposing women's representation in Parliament and state assemblies.

Nashik Mayor Himgauri Aher-Adake, along with other women BJP leaders and supporters, took out a protest march against Gandhi's visit to the city.