Jammu: Senior BJP leader and former Minister Bali Bhagat today launched a sharp and sarcastic attack on the Congress leadership over the suspension of its own Youth Congress office-bearers for failing to attend the INDIA bloc rally held at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi, on November 1.
Taking a jibe at the Congress leadership, Bhagat remarked that the party seems to have launched its own ‘Congress Clean Abhiyan’, where instead of winning over disgruntled workers, it is busy cleaning its own organisation by suspending those who do not fall in line with the leadership's instructions.
"Congress leaders are busy dreaming of winning the hearts of 140 crore Indians, but they have apparently forgotten how to win the hearts of their own party workers. If they cannot convince their own leaders and grassroots workers to attend a rally voluntarily, how do they expect the people of India to rally behind them?" Bhagat quipped.
Taking a direct swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Bhagat said, "Rahul Gandhi keeps talking about democracy, protecting institutions and saving the Constitution, but what kind of democracy exists within his own organisation? Is Congress now running on the principle of 'my way or suspension'? First win the confidence of your own workers, Rahul Ji, before setting out to win the confidence of the country!"
In an even sharper attack, Bhagat remarked that the Congress leadership itself appears to have accepted Rahul Gandhi as 'Pappu', alleging that even his own party colleagues are troubled by his political claims and statements.
"The Congress party seems to be struggling with a peculiar problem: its own leaders and workers are not convinced by the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. They appear troubled by what they consider his misleading claims and political narratives. When Congress's own people are unwilling to follow his lead, a serious question arises: why should the rest of the country rally behind someone who is unable to command the confidence of his own party members? Before expecting India to accept his leadership, Rahul Gandhi must first win the trust of his own colleagues," Bhagat remarked sarcastically.
He further observed that the Congress leadership appears more interested in counting attendance through mobile applications, barcodes and suspension orders than understanding why its own workers are becoming disillusioned.
"Imagine the irony! A party that claims to represent the voice of the people is now struggling to ensure that its own office-bearers stand with its leadership. Instead of introspection, it has chosen punishment. Perhaps the next Congress rally will require an attendance certificate, a barcode scan and a loyalty test before anyone is allowed to call themselves a Congress worker!" he said sarcastically.
Bhagat observed that reports of hundreds of Youth Congress office-bearers facing disciplinary action for missing the November 1 rally have exposed serious questions about internal coordination, leadership and morale within the party.
"Congress should stop worrying about who attended and who missed a particular rally and start worrying about why its own people are losing enthusiasm. Workers cannot be won through threats, notices and suspensions; they are won through respect, recognition and trust," he added.
Concluding his remarks, Bhagat said that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership must understand that political popularity cannot be manufactured through compulsory attendance or organisational diktats.
"Before launching a mission to win India, Congress should first launch a genuine mission to win back its own workers. Otherwise, this so-called Congress Clean Abhiyan may leave the party searching for workers even before it starts searching for votes!" he remarked.
