It’s easy to take Gandhi’s name, difficult to tread his path: Sonia
NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday attacked the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), saying those “thirsty for power and indulging in politics of falsehood” cannot understand Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of truth and selfless service.
Addressing a gathering of Congress leaders and workers after paying tribute to the Father of the Nation on his 150th birth anniversary, she said it is “easy to take the name of Mahatma Gandhi but difficult to tread his path”.
“Some people are taking Gandhiji’s name, but at the same time trying to take the nation on their own path that is different from what the Father of the Nation had conceived. His soul would be pained by what has been happening in India over the past few years,” Sonia Gandhi said. The Congress has often accused the BJP of appropriating its political icons, including Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, for electoral mileage. Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, undertook a padayatra (march) in Delhi to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.
LUCKNOW : All India Mahila Congress general secretary and Rae Bareli (Sadar) MLA Aditi Singh’s move of attending the special session of the state assembly, defying the party’s decision to stay away, may come as a major setback for the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
Although Singh said she took part in the debate ‘rising above party politics’, her move assumes greater political significance as Rae Bareli is the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
“I spoke on development issues rising above party politics. I have tried to tread the path that I feel is right and what my father has shown to me,” said Singh after attending the state assembly.
Singh hinted she was ready to face action, saying “It’s the party’s call. I will accept whatever decision the Congress may take,” she said.
Earlier in the day, Aditi Singh had stayed away from the ‘padyatra’ that Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had undertaken from Shaheed Smarak to the GPO Park here. Singh was considered close to the Nehru-Gandhi family and Priyanka had recently visited her home in Lalupur village of Rae Bareli to pay homage to her father Akhilesh Singh.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ajay Kumar Lallu said he was not aware whether Aditi Singh had defied the party’s decision.
“I will find out and let you know,” said Lallu.
There is speculation in political circles about whether she would join the BJP. Singh said in the state assembly that she was grateful to chief minister Yogi Adityanath for the action he took in connection with the attack on her when she was on way to the Rae Bareli district panchayat earlier this year.
“I am educated and so I support nullifying Article 370,” she said in the House.
The BJP has been making consistent attempts to strengthen the party in Rae Bareli. BJP chief Amit Shah had inducted Congress MLC Dinesh Singh in his party before the Lok Sabha election. Dinesh Singh’s brother Congress MLA Rakesh Singh is already being considered out of Congress for all practical purposes.