AMN / NEW DELHI
As she passed on the mantle of the Congress president to her son Rahul Gandhi, Ms Sonia Gandhi today on Saturday expressed confidence that he would lead the party with a pure heart, patience and devotion.
The process of his election as the new Congress chief was completed after the Central Election Authority President Mullapally Ramachandran handed over the Certificate of Election to Rahul Gandhi in a ceremony at 24, Akbar Road, housing the party headquarters.
Sonia Gandhi in her speech said the Congress activists and leaders were not a terrified lot. “We won’t bow down. Our struggle is for the country and we will continue fighting for it. We won’t give it up,” said Sonia Gandhi.
“Rahul is my son. So I do not think to praise him is appropriate for me. But I would say that since childhood he had to bear the brunt of violence. After joining politics he had to face blatant personal attacks that have made him a stronger person.”
Manmohan Singh said Rahul Gandhi was assuming the new responsibility amid “disturbing trends” as “there are dangers that the politics of fear will take over the politics of hope” in the country.
“Rahulji, we depend upon you to transform and sustain the politics of hope,” Manmohan Singh said, pointing out that the new Congress President had been trained for a long period and had already looked after many activities of the Congress for many years now.
“Rahulji brings in a new sense of dedication and commitment, a new sense of leadership with courage and humility.”
Manmohan Singh said it was “a unique day in the history of the Congress” with Sonia Gandhi handing over the reins of the party to her son.
He said during the last 19 years as the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi “provided a powerful leadership”.
“Now that Soniaji is handing over the reins of the party to Rahulji, we salute Soniaji for uniting the leadership, something that she has been doing for the last 19 years.”