Lucknow: At a time when a section of Congress leaders have rekindled a debate over Priyanka Gandhi being the potential prime ministerial face of the Congress, another voice has spoken up in her favour—her party’s Saharanpur MP Imran Masood. Also joining the now-growing chorus is her husband Robert Vadra. However, the BJP used the vote of confidence in Priyanka to project a lack of faith in Rahul.
Asked about Priyanka’s recent comment urging the government to take of the violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, Imran Masood told news agency ANI: “Is Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister? Make her the Prime Minister and see how she responds, just like Indira Gandhi did. She is Priyanka Gandhi, a Gandhi by name, the granddaughter of Indira Gandhi, who dealt Pakistan such a blow that its scars remain even today. Make her the Prime Minister and see the retaliation. You would not dare to do that.”
Soon after this, BJP spokesperson Shahzad Poonawalla said: “Congress MP Imran Masood clearly said he has no faith in Rahul Gandhi anymore. ‘Rahul hatao Priyanka Gandhi laao’. Now he wants to work towards making Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister. Robert Vadra himself has endorsed this. This means Rahul Gandhi has not just lost the public vote; his allies rejected him, and now there seems to be a problem in Janpath also. Rahul Gandhi neither has ‘janmat (public vote)’, nor ‘sangat (company)’, nor support from Janpath. A few days ago, Mohd Moquim, an Odisha Congress leader, also said that Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge should be removed from their leadership positions and Priyanka Gandhi should replace them. He was immediately suspended from the party. It cannot be clearer that no one has confidence in Rahul Gandhi…”
Speaking to ThePrint, Masood said, “Some news channels have twisted my statement. I only responded to a question from reporters when they asked about Priyanka-ji’s stand on Bangladesh. They have asked me to elaborate Priyanka Gandhi’s stand in support of Bangladeshi Hindus, so I said, “Is she a PM? If she was, then she would have responded the way Indira Gandhi did.” Now it is being distorted and compared with Rahul-ji, which is unfortunate. I will clarify my stand to same news agencies again,” Masood added.
Later, Masood spoke to ANI again: “The BJP has nothing else to do. Rahul Gandhi is my leader, just as he is Priyanka Gandhi’s. I was asked a question about Priyanka Gandhi, and I responded in that context, saying she is the next Indira Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are like the two eyes of Indira Gandhi. I only meant that the situation of Hindus in Bangladesh would not be what it is today had Priyanka Gandhi been the prime minister. Rahul Gandhi remains our most respected leader.”
Masood is considered close to Priyanka Gandhi. Congress leaders in Uttar Pradesh claim that she played a key role in his return to the party from the BSP just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, as well as in securing his ticket. Since then, he has been seen as her loyalist.
After Masood’s comment, Robert Vadra said Priyanka has a “bright future” in politics and in changing “what is required”.
Talking to news agency PTI, Vadra said, “I think Priyanka has learnt a lot from her grandmother (Indira Gandhi), father (Rajiv Gandhi), Sonia-ji and her brother (Rahul Gandhi) as well. When she speaks, she speaks from the heart. I think she has a bright future in politics and a bright future in changing what is required on the ground… This will happen in time, it’s inevitable.”
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Former Odisha MLA who sought ‘central role’ for Priyanka in Congress expelled from party