Jagga Reddy’s counter to Shah: Cong will take it as a challenge to make Rahul PM

In Short

Hyderabad: Telangana PCC working president T Jagga Reddy asserted on Wednesday that the Prime Minister’s post originated in Rahul Gandhi’s family; If he had wanted to become PM, he could have done so in 2004 itself. Strongly countering Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent address here, Reddy charged that Narendra Modi became PM three times by invoking Lord Rama. The BJP came to power in the name of Lord Rama but is not governing by his ideals. He recalled that Mahatma Gandhi chanted “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram” during the freedom movement; the BJP did not exist then, and neither Modi nor Shah might even have been born. The senior Congress leader reacted to Shah’s remarks that Rahul has no chance of becoming PM. He said the Union Home Minster was forgetting an important fact; he reiterated that while he does not know whether Rahul will become PM, the office of the PM has its roots in the Gandhi’s family. Reddy advised Shah to ask his family members about the events that took place before the BJP came to power. He stated that after Independence, Jawaharlal Nehru was directly chosen by people to lead the country. Pointing out that Modi has been PM for over a decade, Reddy recalled that when the UPA government was formed under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership in 2004, Congress MPs unanimously wanted Sonia and Rahul to assume the PM’s post. However, both declined the post and instead appointed Dr. Manmohan Singh as PM. According to Reddy, even after becoming PM, Dr. Singh requested Rahul to take over the post, but the latter declined and expressed willingness to work under Dr. Singh’s leadership. He credited the UPA government for introducing the employment guarantee scheme, which, he said, benefited millions across the country. Questioning Shah’s authority to comment on Rahul’s prospects, Reddy said Shah has no right to declare that Rahul Gandhi can never become PM. He asserted that if Rahul wishes to become PM, people can make it happen. ‘Shah has no authority to dictate the choice of voters’. Reddy said this was Telangana Congress’ response to Shah’s remarks and vowed to answer what he described as Shah’s arrogance through electoral success. He expressed confidence that the party would win 14 out of 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana in the next elections; the party would work with determination to help Rahul become PM. Referring to the BJP’s use of Lord Rama’s name in politics, Reddy said there was nothing wrong with respecting Rama, but alleged that the saffron party was not following his ideals in governance and was using his name only for political purposes. He remarked that when Mahatma Gandhi sang “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patita Pavana Sita Ram,” the BJP did not even exist; perhaps neither Modi nor Shah had been born. He said the Nehru-Gandhi family always aspired for the happiness and welfare of people. Reddy accused the BJP of seeking votes in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He pointed out that Patel was a Congress leader and a minister in the Nehru’s Cabinet; the integration of Hyderabad State with India took place under Nehru’s leadership. He alleged that the BJP was trying to claim credit even for leaders and legacies belonging to the Congress. Reddy reiterated that the party would work towards making Rahul the PM and would strive to secure 14 of Telangana’s 17 Lok Sabha seats to achieve that goal.