Senior Congress chief Jairam Ramesh on September 18 asserted that non-BJP events that consider Opposition unity with out the grand previous celebration because the fulcrum is feasible reside in a “fool’s paradise”.
Without naming any outfit, he mentioned many regional events have back-stabbed the grand previous celebration previously to serve their very own self-interests, and that such events ought to cease utilizing the Congress as a punching bag.
“There cannot be any Opposition unity without the Congress as its fulcrum. That is fundamental.
“If any non-BJP outfit thinks any alliance sans the Congress can present a secure authorities for 5 years, it’s residing in a idiot’s paradise. There can by no means be any Opposition unity minus the Congress,” Mr. Ramesh said in an interview with PTI in Kolkata, where he had come to attend a party programme.
Although he dubbed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the “B-team” of the BJP, Mr. Ramesh stopped short of analysing the role of the Trinamool Congress, which too, like the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, is opposed to the Congress, by saying, “It [TMC] has Congress in its identify.”
“We have mentioned this earlier than…there’s ample proof to show that AAP is the B-team of the BJP. If you take a look at its historical past or the background of its leaders, you’ll understand it. Regarding the TMC, I’m but to make my evaluation, however I feel they, too, have Congress of their identify,” he said.
Without naming anyone, Mr. Ramesh said those who talk of Opposition unity without the Congress only want to weaken the Opposition front and the grand old party.
“In an alliance, you give one thing and obtain one thing in return. It is an understanding. So far, the Congress has been providing, and everybody has benefited from it. And after getting advantages, they’ve been making an attempt to make use of the Congress as a punching bag to weaken it. This has to cease now,” he said.
Terming the Congress the “large elephant of Indian politics”, Mr. Ramesh said no one should make the mistake of “writing it off”.
Speaking on the ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, he said a strengthened Congress and a more durable and constructive opposition would be the end product of the march.
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“We have began the Yatra over nationwide points. The nation goes by means of a state of affairs the place our politics, economic system, and establishments are falling aside as a result of BJP and its divisive politics. Another motive of the Yatra is to galvanise the rank and file of the Congress forward of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls,” the former union environment minister said.
Mr. Ramesh said the Yatra was not aimed at State elections in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls.
When told that the Congress is speaking of ‘Bharat Jodo’ when the party itself is in disarray, Mr. Ramesh said the outfit is trying to fix its internal issues.
“We must set our home so as, and we’re doing it. We have to repair our points and are within the means of doing it. The Congress is a 137-year-old celebration; generally, there are some essential moments in historical past once you want out-of-the-box pondering to succeed in out to the plenty. Bharat Jodo Yatra is one such pondering and will probably be a sport changer,” he said.
A nearly 3,650-km-long padayatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir is being undertaken by senior leader Rahul Gandhi since September 7. The five-and-a-half month-long march aims to galvanise Congress cadres and strengthen the organisation, breathing in new energy.
‘Party in disarray’
Taking a swipe at Congress ‘G-23’ leaders, senior politicians of the celebration who had sought an organisational overhaul and elections in any respect ranges in a letter to the Congress president in August 2020, Mr. Ramesh mentioned that after the age of 65, senior politicos ought to act as “mentors and groom next-generation leaders”.
“Senior Congress leaders should act as mentors. I believe I am now 68 and don’t have the same energy I used to have ten or five years back. After the age of 65, one should identify people who are in their 30s and 40s and groom them for becoming next-generation leaders,” he mentioned.
Speaking on the continuing desertion of senior leaders from the celebration, Mr. Ramesh mentioned those that have gotten every little thing from the Congress are leaving the celebration.
“There are two types of people who are leaving the Congress. The first type includes those who have benefited immensely from the party. Ghulam Nabi Azad is an example. He got everything from the party and has now left it.
“The second kind are these leaving the Congress to flee investigative companies that are after them for his or her earlier sins. Dedicated Congressmen won’t ever desert the celebration,” he said.
When asked whether the idea of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ to mobilise masses has been taken from the ‘Ram Rath Yatra’ of the BJP in the 90s, Mr. Ramesh replied in negative.
“Earlier, on a number of events, the Congress and Rahul Gandhi have taken out yatras, however perhaps not of this scale. And relating to BJP’s yatra, it was in response to V.P. Singh’s Mandal Commission. The Bharat Jodo Yatra is in opposition to the divisive politics and insurance policies of the BJP,” he added.
Source: www.thehindu.com