Congress on its knees, Mom watching, The Son says wait, I am learning

While Sonia Gandhi ticked them off, saying “ostentatious lifestyle and crass display of wealth by Congress workers is an insult to the poor of the country… mend ways to restore public faith in political process”, Rahul too said “please don’t blame others for your decline, do your job instead.”

Claiming Congress revival in the North was inevitable, Sonia said she had “no magic wand” to do that. “It’s a long and hard struggle…But you must also share the responsibility,” she told the delegates.

“Most beneficiaries of schemes initiated by our government, such as the Rural Employment Guarantee Act, are in non-Congress ruled states. This proves our commitment to the poor is not coloured by political considerations. All Congress workers must ensure that these non-Congress governments do not sabotage these programmes. Educate people about their entitlement,” she said.

“This is an hour for both celebration and introspection for the Congress. You must adhere to a code of conduct, do not misuse power. Once in power, our leaders tend to ignore the workers,” she said, warning them of its consequences.

Rahul too had a message for partymen who had been demanding all morning that he be inducted into the CWC. “Leadership should be created brick by brick. I appreciate your desire. But I must learn the job before I take up the job. Let me learn first and I promise I shall not let you down.”

In a speech—party speechwriters said it was drafted by Rahul himself—the MP from Amethi said how he had made up his mind the day his father was being cremated. “I was once asked what my religion is. I answered, my religion is the national flag of India,” he said. Rahul was invited to speak on the political resolution of the party. All through the deliberations, he had been sitting in the enclosure for AICC delegates.

He began by addressing “respected president of the Congress and respected prime minister”. Midway through his speech, he commended the leadership of “Sonia Gandhiji” even as she listened in rapt attention.

He began in Hindi but switched to English midway after taking the permission of the audience.

“We must introspect why we became weak. Some say it is because of regional parties. I don’t agree. We shrunk because we failed to keep up the struggle for the poor people. A better future is the right of everyone, and our party must help them in achieving this. Only this will help us grow.”

Saying the country’s youth were looking to the Congress, Rahul made two appeals, one to the workers and another to the elders: “Our workers must go to villages and towns, schools and universities. Away from power, towards the people. For the elders, we are soldiers, available for any work. Recognise good work and give voice to ordinary workers of the party.”