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Journalism of Courage
Kishori Lal Sharma, 62, who emerged as a giant slayer in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, was accorded a rousing welcome by the Congress workers on his visit to his hometown Ludhiana. Sharma has been with the Gandhi family through thick and thin for over four decades now. This time, he defeated BJP heavyweight and ex-minister Smriti Irani by over 1.60 lakh votes from Amethi of Uttar Pradesh, the bastion of Gandhis. Slain PM Rajiv Gandhi was four-time MP from Amethi while Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have represented the seat thrice and once, respectively.
In an interview with The Indian Express, he discusses how he joined the Congress and grew closer to the Gandhis and Amethi. Excerpts:
It is never easy to leave your home and work elsewhere but this journey with the Gandhi family has been fulfilling. I had left Ludhiana in 1983 when a training programme was started for young party workers by the Youth Congress. Then MLA from Ludhiana Satpal Parashar recommended my name. He even told me “bhaag ke mat aa jaana, badi badnaami hogi (Don’t come back without completing the training, it would be humiliating)”. We were given the duty to check the ground-level implementation of “20-point programme” which was started by the then PM Indira Gandhi. My first field assignment for the party was in Madhya Pradesh. Later, the workers who performed the best in this assignment were taken to Amethi by the then MP Rajiv Gandhi to work on the ground.
My Amethi journey started in November 1983 and since then, I have been in love with its people.
Once I was being given a Congress ticket from Ludhiana but I was too young. Then Rajivji told me that I would work with him closely. Soon I realised that being an MP/MLA was not my thing. I felt the biggest blessing for me was this opportunity to serve and support the Gandhi family in whichever way possible. Thereafter, I never expressed any wish to contest any election. Even after I got married in 1992, I continued working in Amethi as per the party’s orders, and my family lived in Ludhiana.
I met Indira Gandhi only twice, as she was assassinated soon after I reached Amethi in November 1983. But yes, I have seen Rajiv Gandhi very closely in all roles — MP, prime minister, and leader of the opposition. I had a long association with him from 1983 till his death. One similarity between Rajiv and Rahul is their respect for elders. I also feel that Rahul has been facing more challenges politically, compared to his father.
During Rajiv’s time, there were not many regional parties. Even if there were, they were not that strong. Congress was comfortably placed, especially in UP. But by the time Rahul took over, several regional parties emerged. Rahul is facing all of them. He is facing a lot more challenges. Even communalism is much more today. Both Rajiv and Rahul have been very hard working but yes, Rahul is facing way more challenges politically. I am just a small soldier of the party and no one to comment much but Priyanka Gandhi’s quality is that she mingles with the people in no time.
My leader Rahul Gandhi has already answered them (BJP) well. People have answered them by making Congress victorious. The BJP actually never knew who I am. I was never an employee of the Congress party. I always had my own business in Ludhiana. They called me chaprasi as per their sanskaar (values). People of Amethi have already answered for me. As for Smriti Irani, she is a very intelligent woman. I have no more comments for her.
I think they missed the Gandhi family for five years (Rahul Gandhi lost to Irani in 2019). The Gandhi family told them that I was like their family so they should vote for me. I was always there with the people of Amethi during these 40 years. I was never a new name for them. The BJP did not know who I was, the people of Amethi knew. Amethi for me has been a political assignment that I was given by my adarsh (model) Rajiv Gandhi. Though I am elated to win from here, Amethi will always remain amaanat of the Gandhi family and I will work as their custodian.
In your home state Punjab, veteran Congressman and slain Punjab CM Beant Singh’s grandson Ravneet Singh Bittu joined the BJP.
I have worked very closely with the late Beant Singh ji. He was a great man who sacrificed his life for the people and for the peace of Punjab. Only Bittu knows what his compulsions were behind joining the BJP.
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