NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi has agreed to start holding a 'janata darbar', bowing to strong pleas from Congress leaders who argued that this will help him reach out to common people and instill confidence among the poor that he cares for them.
Rahul agreed to make himself accessible to the public on a more regular basis after an interaction on Monday with party functionaries who reminded that former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi would meet everyone who visited them from across the country for redress of their grievances. Mahila Congress chief Anita Verma and AICC secretary Hanumantha Rao stressed that 'janata darbar' under the earlier generation of Gandhi family sent across the message that the voiceless had a patron in the family.
The individual pitches soon jelled into a forceful plea to recreate the tradition as more leaders joined in during the meeting of office-bearers.
In response, Rahul committed to fix specific morning hours for visitors like 9.30-11 am.
In his remarks, Rahul was seen to advocate a pragmatic approach to implementation of the party constitution. He was elaborating upon his argument on Friday about the justification of framing rules which were hard to implement. He said Congress had a radical constitution prepared on the experiences of Nehru and Gandhi, but its implementation would depend on situations and contexts.
Monday's meeting witnessed excessive focus on improving public access to ministers and party managers in what seemed to be an attempt to create a climate of accessibility and inclusiveness in the party under Rahul as vice-president.
Union sports minister Jitendra Singh said at least one central minister should sit in Congress headquarters every day to show that those in power in Delhi were available to listen to people's problems. He said the visitors would carry the positive message to far-flung villages they belonged to.
A leader lamented that touring Congress leaders visited "influential persons" in districts but avoided going to the local party office. A secretary, sources said, complained that supremacy of the party remained valid only while it was in opposition, implying that once in power, leaders would give short shrift to the organization.
The functionary also lamented that those who sabotaged his election managed to become ministers.
Hanumantha Rao sought to soften the hostility among the youth of Telangana about the Congress brass, urging Rahul to find out why they were committing suicide and to assure them that there was no need to take such extreme action. Rao said Congress should create multiple leaders in states, accommodating all social groups to obviate the dependence on alliances to win over specific constituencies like OBCs, SCs or minorities.
Rahul Gandhi to meet visitors at ‘janata darbar’?
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Rahul Gandhi to meet visitors at ‘janata darbar’?
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Rahul Gandhi to meet visitors at ‘janata darbar’?
