“Congress can get my house attacked…”, claims former senior Congress leader
“Congress can get my house attacked…”, claims former senior Congress leader
Patna | Former senior Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed has leveled serious allegations against the Congress party’s current state, the leadership style of the Gandhi family, and the conduct of the Youth Congress. In an exclusive conversation with news agency IANS in Patna on Tuesday, Ahmed shared his experiences with the party leadership, stating that the organization is currently navigating a period of deep crisis.
Observations on the Gandhi Family
Speaking about Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, Ahmed recalled being invited by her to a meeting long ago. While he attended, he noted that beyond formal greetings, there was no significant dialogue between them. He praised her oratory skills, stating, “Priyanka Gandhi’s greatest strength is that her words touch the heart directly; her speech style is highly influential.”
In contrast, Ahmed lauded Sonia Gandhi’s leadership for uniting the fragmented factions left behind by the eras of Rajiv Gandhi, Narasimha Rao, and Sitaram Kesari. He recalled that while the party was weak in 1999, it was Sonia Gandhi’s leadership that brought Congress back to power in 2004. “The hallmark of her leadership was her accessibility; she made it a point to meet common workers and leaders from across the country,” he said.
Criticizing Rahul Gandhi’s working style, Ahmed alleged that the leader meets only a selective group of people. “If someone seeks an appointment, information is first gathered from the Bihar in-charge. Time is granted only if the in-charge believes the person will praise the leadership,” Ahmed claimed.
Allegations Against Youth Congress
Shakeel Ahmed leveled grave charges against the Youth Congress, claiming he received telephonic information that orders had been issued from Delhi to attack him. He alleged that plans were made to target his residences in Patna and Madhubani, an issue he has already reported to the local administration.
He further revealed that an official directive was issued to burn his effigy in protest. However, Ahmed raised a religious objection to this method:
“I am a Muslim. If you want to finish me, you must bury me. Burning an effigy is an insult to my religion and an attempt to corrupt my faith.”
He expressed disappointment that after serving the party in various high-ranking positions for decades, the Youth Congress is taking such an action against him, allegedly at the behest of the top leadership.
On the Future of Congress and PM Modi
Expressing concern over the party’s future, Ahmed stated that the party’s condition is dire and it has already been relegated to a secondary option. “The future is in God’s hands, but the current situation does not bode well for the party,” he remarked.
Sharing an anecdote about his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ahmed recalled thinking the PM wouldn’t recognize him. When he introduced himself while shaking hands, the PM reportedly said, “You say very bad things about me.” To this, Ahmed replied, “My job is to say bad things about you,” referring to his then-role as a minister and party spokesperson.
IANS
