Rahul Gandhi gives ‘Guru mantra’ to Haryana, Uttarakhand Congress district presidents, also meets their families in Kurukshetra

KURUKSHETRA: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday addressed a organisation building training camp of Congress district presidents from Haryana and Uttarakhand states held at Punjabi Dharamshala in Kurukshetra, where he gave clear guidance as Guru Mantra (master’s guidance) on strengthening the party organisation in their respective states enforcing discipline at all levels.

Sources said that 33 Congress district presidents joined the training camp attended by Rahul from Haryana and 27 from Uttarakhand. Rahul stayed in Haryana for nearly six hours from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. He arrived in Kurukshetra at about 11:20 am from Ambala by road and took off from Ambala at about 5:30 pm after attending the training camp.Rahul Gandhi moved to Kurukshetra in the same vehicle as former Haryana chief minister and Leader of Opposition in Haryana Vidhan Sabha Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rao Narendra Singh and AICC general secretary B K Hariprasad.

Earlier, the three leaders, along with MP Deepender Singh Hooda, Ambala City MLA Nirmal Singh and other senior leaders, received Rahul Gandhi at the Ambala airport. On his return from Kurukshetra as well, Rahul Gandhi travelled with Hooda and Rao Narendra.Sources privy to the camp said that during his address, Rahul Gandhi briefed all district presidents in detail about the Congress party’s history, ideology and future strategy. He urged them to work with full dedication, enthusiasm and commitment to strengthen the party, while taking proper guidance from the senior leaders.

He also met the family members of the district presidents individually who were specially invited by the Congress leader to talk to them if they wanted to say something out.Rahul had lunch with district presidents and kept senior party leaders separate while holding discussion with them. Strict discipline was maintained at the training camp as no media or other people were allowed inside.Rahul Gandhi held separate discussions with Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rao Narendra Singh and B K Hariprasad, during which he took detailed inputs on the political situation and ongoing developments in Haryana.

He directed the state leadership to implement discipline within the party and the organisation with seriousness and strictness.He specifically instructed Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the state Congress president to take action against leaders indulging in anti-party statements and activities. In an indirect but clear message, Rahul Gandhi also cautioned those leaders who are not participating wholeheartedly in programmes announced by the party high command and who display discriminatory behaviour towards party office-bearers.The district presidents, in their interaction with Rahul Gandhi, also provided feedback regarding such leaders. They pointed out that frequent irresponsible statements by certain leaders damage the Congress while benefiting the BJP and give the media an opportunity to run negative stories against the party. The district presidents emphasised that it is essential to curb such statements in the larger interest of the Congress.Sources said that Rahul told district presidents that, “The prevailing empire of corrupt power poses a major challenge, but stressed that party workers must confront these challenges with courage and further reinforce the organisation. Boosting the morale of the district presidents. No one can suppress your voice because a strong organisation like the Congress stands with you. You are capable and empowered. There is no need to take decisions under pressure—work independently.

We will periodically assess your progress and continue to provide guidance and support whenever required.”A district president who joined the training said, “District presidents of Uttarakhand and Haryana were called for a meeting. Families of district presidents were also called and Rahul Ji held individual meetings with them. During the training session, we had lunch together besides the group discussion about how to strengthen party and organizational structure.

He spent about 2.5 hours with the district presidents and held separate meetings with senior leaders.

”“Rahul Ji gave instructions to take forward policies of the party to every household and also to give respect to every party worker. He directed that the district presidents and party workers should hold more meetings with the general public rather than the party leaders. He said the workers should also meet leaders but should register more presence among the public. Rahul Ji also instructed not to indulge in any reactionary politics with the opposition but to remain focused towards our goal”, said a district president.Congress MPs Kumari Selja, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Deepender Hooda, Uttarakhand chief Ganesh Godiyal, co-in-charges Jitendra Baghel and Prafulla Gudde were also present.