Congress MP Rahul Gandhi today issued a stark warning to certain of the party’s Gujarat unit members, alleging that some had secretly been working in the interests of the BJP. In an emphatic speech, he called for paying heed to internal issues that had caused the party to lose contact with the electorate.
The BJP was quick to respond, terming Gandhi’s remark a self-criticism, with party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla terming him the “biggest asset” of their party.
Rahul Gandhi stressed the need for decisive action, implying that Congress is ready to sacrifice up to 40 leaders if necessary to cleanse the ranks in the BJP-governed state, where the party has not held power for nearly three decades. He identified a deep fissure in the Gujarat unit, drawing a line between leaders who are close to the people and those who are alienated.
“To connect with the people of Gujarat, we must distinguish between these two groups,” Gandhi told a function in Ahmedabad. “If it involves killing 10, 20, or even 40 individuals, we are willing to provide that example.”
He dared the members of Congress who are secretly supporting the BJP to come out in the open and declare their affiliations, challenging them to join the opposition party openly, warning them that they would not be welcomed warmly there.
Gandhi realized the challenging job before Congress in Gujarat, stating that focusing on elections alone would not suffice to rebuild public trust. “Unless we fulfill our responsibilities, people of Gujarat will not vote for us. We need to regain their confidence first,” he claimed.
Mumtaz Patel, daughter of Congress veteran Ahmed Patel, expressed that Gandhi’s address inspired her to speak out. She lamented her lack of a formal role in the party, stating, “There are many who hinder workers like me for personal gain, leading to the party’s weakening.” Patel voiced hope that Gandhi understands the ground realities and expressed a desire to contribute to the party’s efforts.
In response to this, BJP spokesperson Poonawalla condemned Gandhi’s comments and termed them as an admission of the inability of the Congress leader to mobilize support in Gujarat. Poonawalla responded bluntly, “Are your party workers animals?” after Gandhi had compared them with horses in using an analogy on how effective they were.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh also echoed these words, claiming that the Gujarat workers have lost confidence in Gandhi as a leader, and positing that leadership challenges always result in party losses.
During his speech, Gandhi also attacked the current government of Gujarat, particularly for small and medium businesses and farmers, and asserted that development needs a new vision. “The current model of governance has collapsed. People of Gujarat want change, and Congress can provide that vision,” he said.
