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.
Every diplomatic move of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including his latest interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping, is being closely watched by the US as it prepares to welcome Modi for a major summit with President Barack Obama next week - to glean as to how to interact with India's new prime minister who is known to spring surprises.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a packed schedule of 35 engagements, including an address to the UN General Assembly and a much-anticipated summit meeting with US President Barack Obama, during his Sep 26-30 visit to the US.
Even as Chinese soldiers continue to lodge on Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region, China has sought a flag meet, defence ministry officials said Tuesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday appealed to the 1.25-billion Indians to join him in cleaning up the filth that has brought a bad name to the country.
In a hair-raising incident, witnessed by scores and captured live on many cameras, a 200-kg white tiger mauled and killed a youth after he fell into the animal's moat in the Delhi Zoo, eyewitnesses and officials said Tuesday.
