The suspense over Rahul Gandhi’s elevation as president of the Congress Party has gathered momentum once again, with the Congress Working Committee members requesting him to assume charge. Senior party leader A K Antony, who was present at the CWC meeting on Monday, said that the time was right for Rahul to take charge as president of the party. Other members of the working committee have unanimously agreed to his proposal.
CWC was of view that Rahul Gandhi must take over presidency for Congress party, its high time the Congress mobilises all forces to fight against the dictatorial rule of Modi government,” AK Antony told reporters after the meeting ended.
Saying that it was the first time this sentiment was “strongly and unanimously” expressed, Antony added that the final decision rests with the party president Sonia Gandhi. She skipped the CWC meeting as she was feeling unwell. Rahul chaired the meeting, for the first time, in her absence.
In his keynote address at the meeting, Rahul hit out at the Modi government saying that, under the current dispensation, democracy was going through one of its darkest hours. “The Modi government is obsessed with power, it seeks to silence all those who disagree. Asking questions is what discomforts this government, for they have no answers, we must expose their failures in upcoming Parliament session,” he said.
A resolution condemning the statements made by union ministers over the Indian Army’s surgical strikes on terrorist bases in Pakistan was passed at the meeting. The CWC members also discussed ways to put pressure on the Modi government on Jammu-Kashmir and the One Rank One Pension issue at the upcoming Parliament Winter Session.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting ended, Congress leader R S Surjewala said that Rahul is ready to take up any role the party workers decide for him. “Rahul Gandhi said he wants to fight for the idea of India and whatever party workers decide, he will be ready to take up that role,” he Surjewala said.
