Rahul disowns Mission ‘2012’

Addressing Youth Congress activists,he said “Mission 2012” was not his idea,it was a brainchild of media.

This is the first time Rahul has disowned “Mission 2012” ¿ a favourite theme in the speeches of senior state Congress leaders — including the paty’s state president Rita Bahuguna Joshi — since the Lok Sabha elections when the Congress had put up a good show.

Almost all senior state Congress leaders have stated on various occasions that the party is committed to “Rahulji’s Mission 2012”.

Rahul’s remarks came as a second surprise to about 320 Youth Congress activists elected from the Central Zone of UP,who had gathered at a water park for a five-day political training programme which will conclude on Friday.

His visit was the first surprise — coming as it did on a very short notice.

According to a Youth Congress activist,Rahul had said: “UP mein sarkar aye,yeh mera mission hai. Mission 2012 nahi. 2012 mission media ne diya hai. Kisi party se gathbandhan nahi,purna bahumat pe hi sarkar banayenge.” When he left after one-and-a-half hour,the activists were confused ¿ wondering why he had disowned something they always talked about with pride. None had asked Rahul this question,although they did raise others.

As Rahul entered the hall,IYC President Rajeev Satav was replying to a member who asked why the party had fielded Saif Ali Naqvi,son of Congress MP Zafar Ali Naqvi,for the Lakhimpur Kheri by-election ¿ even though he had lost in the Youth Congress organisational elections.

Satav said such mistakes will not be repeated. His promise was underscored by Rahul.

Some of the activists asked about their future in politics after being elected in the Youth Congress or after being made the master trainers. He told them all Congress candidates from UP below 35 years of age will be elected members of the Youth Congress.

He was also asked about the suspension of the newly elected Central Zone president Tarun Patel. Rahul said the decision was taken by the IYC president and his team or he could not interfere in it. “Indiscipline will not be tolerated within the organisation,” he had added. Patel had broken open the locks of some rooms at party office.

Rahul said there was need for a transformation within the Youth Congress,a need for internal democracy,a need for having elected representatives in the organisation,and a need to inform the people about Centrally-sponsored schemes and helping the poor people get their benefits.