Rahul Gandhi not being allowed to function independently: Digvijay
Darpan News Desk IANS, 25 Feb, 2015 11:54 AM
Congress party vice president Rahul Gandhi "feels very strongly" that he is not being allowed to function independently by "vested interests" in the party, said Congress party general secretary Digvijay Singh Wednesday.
In an interview with Headlines Today, Digvijay Singh said Rahul Gandhi was "not running away" and he is "made of sterner stuff".
Digvijay Singh said that Gandhi had held consultations on the future roadmap of the Congress before going on leave. He acknowledged that he was surprised when he learnt about the latter's leave, adding he came to know about it from journalists.
Asked if Gandhi was frustrated at not being allowed to function freely within the party, Digvijay Singh said: "I'm not sure of that, only he can answer. One thing I know that he feels very strongly that he is not being allowed to function independently."
When asked who was stopping him Singh said "the party itself", adding: "Vested interests in the party."
He discounted any difference between party chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, saying they had a good bonding but they were different in their thinking due to the age gap, a feature which exists in all families.
Digvijay Singh also mentioned Congress workers in Delhi were more disillusioned with Rahul Gandhi than their colleagues from other units in the country.
"Time has come for him to aggressively come out on issues. He should be seen more. People want to know what Rahul Gandhi stands for. What is Rahul Gandhi's development strategy for the country," he added.
The NDA government faced strident criticism over the land acquisition bill introduced in the Lok Sabha Tuesday, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal joining Gandhian activist Anna Hazare in slamming the "anti-farmer" legislation and demanding its withdrawal.
The corporate espionage case continued to unravel Tuesday with a defence ministry employee arrested for alleged involvement in the leak of government documents even as police continued to question some employees of the coal and petroleum ministries.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's comments on Mother Teresa kicked up a furore as political parties and Christian groups Tuesday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi show that he meant every word of his assurance last week that he would not tolerate inciting of religious hatred.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has taken "leave of absence" to reflect on a series of electoral defeats for his party and chart its future course, the party announced Monday, drawing an critical response for the BJP who slammed him for "holidaying" during the "important" budget session of parliament.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's comments on Mother Teresa Monday evoked controversy but the organisation denied he had criticised the Nobel laureate who spent her life in the service of the destitute.
The Delhi High Court Tuesday will hear rape-accused Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav's plea seeking direction to recall 28 prosecution witnesses in the case for further cross examination.
