Expecting
questions on the first family, the party’s top leadership, after the complete
rout of the Congress party in the Delhi assembly polls, sources say the party came
up with up with a new brief for its spokespersons.
Thanks
to a recently shunned spokesperson, who helped with a copy of the brief, here
is what it said:
On the Delhi debacle: Party is looking into it and will bounce back
soon. There was no anger against the party. In fact, Congress is content that
the communal BJP has been shown the door. The increasing fringe voices from the
RSS and its affiliate organizations on making India a Hindu nation or the
radical agenda like religion conversions have shown the real character of the
BJP.
On the Gandhi family: The Congress spokespersons are to follow the same
line on the first family of the party, the Gandhis (including Robert Vadra) the
way it has been. Its sanctity is not to be touched. But, in the changed
circumstances, it is expected from the spokespersons that they follow the line
in a way that they must not sound doing so.
On increasing voices of dissent: Though the party follows internal democracy, the
liberty to speak out has valid restrictions as propounded by our top leadership
of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. If anyone has any grievance, the person needs
to approach the top leadership. Party discipline must be respected.
On future strategy: Organizational polls will be held for party
positions as per the ‘democratic norms’ of the party’s constitution. It goes
with the ‘fact’ that positions like vice-president do not come in the poll
ambit. Also, Congress believes in developing consensus and the current
president Sonia Gandhi is a world figure and one of the tallest mass leaders
whose acceptability transcends party lines.
And
with today's controversy on Rahul Gandhi going on leave (or the sabbatical)
during the Budget session of the Parliament, that acquired stormy propositions
by the late evening with discussions themed on a possible 'Sonia-Rahul
discord', the party had to add another one to the list, in a quickly called
meeting of the party's apex communication cell.
And
thanks again to the same source, the shunned spokesperson, the addition to the
brief was:
On Rahul Gandhi's sabbatical during the
Budget session of the Parliament:
It has to be referred to as sabbatical only, nothing else. Party is gearing up
to bounce back under the leadership of Sonia ji and Rahul ji. Rahul Gandhi is
our leader and he has been practicing innovative politics ever since he got
active in politics. He is a leader with out of the box thinking and has taken a
well thought sabbatical to reflect on the developments so far to work on the
further course of action. He will soon join us to launch a comprehensive
protest against the anti-people policies of the Narendra Modi government.