Rahul Gandhi has taken the mantle of Congress party at crucial juncture. It has to be seen how he emerges victorious facing onslaught of communal forces.
By Andalib Akhter
Marking a generational change Rahul Gandhi on Saturday ( December 16,2017) took over as the new President of India’s oldest political party, the Congress.
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 at a ceremony at 24, Akbar Road, the party headquarters.
Soon after taking charge as party chief Rahul Gandhi made his intention clear by launching a frontal attack on the BJP, accusing it of spreading hatred and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking India back to medieval times.
Gandhi said the BJP is “fighting for itself”, while the Congress is “fighting for everyone” in the country.
The Congress chief said he wanted the party to be an instrument of dialogue with people from all corners of the country, “all religions, all ethnicities, all ages and gender and for our dialogue to be led by love and affection”.
The ceremony was marked by loud celebrations as scorces of Rahul Gandhi supporters danced to upbeat tunes, raised slogans, burst crackers and distributed sweets outside the party office here.
Since 2004, Rahul Gandhi has been the Member of Parliament representing Amethi in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha. In 2007, he was named General Secretary of the Indian National Congress in charge of the youth and student organisations of the Party. In January 2013, he assumed office as Vice President of the Indian National Congress.
Rahul was born on June 19, 1970 to Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi. He has attended St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, Harvard College and Rollins College, Florida from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. He went on to receive an M. Phil. in Development Studies from Trinity College, Cambridge University. Thereafter, he joined the Monitor Group, a strategy consulting group, in London, where he worked for three years.
In the past, Rahul was a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs and Human Resource Development and the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Currently, he serves on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. He is also Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
Rahul has championed the development of a self-help group movement and a non-profit eye care provider in Uttar Pradesh. He also serves as a trustee of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.
Rahul Gandhi has taken the mantle of Congress party at crucial juncture. It has to be seen how he emerges victorious facing onslaught of communal forces.
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