Congress Member of Parliament Imran Masood has issued a clarification, firmly stating that Rahul Gandhi remains the acknowledged leader of the party. This statement comes after his earlier remarks concerning Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ignited a political controversy, which was swiftly capitalized on by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Clarification After Controversial Remarks
Masood explained that his comments were made in a specific context. He was asked a question about Priyanka Gandhi in relation to the situation of Hindus in Bangladesh. Masood centered his response around this premise, stating that if Priyanka or Rahul Gandhi had command, the persecution faced by Hindus in Bangladesh would not be occurring under the current BJP-led government's watch.
"Rahul Gandhi is leader of Congress, and he is also the leader of Priyanka," Masood elaborated. He emphasized their shared legacy as grandchildren of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The clarification appeared to follow a nudge from the party's high command, the All India Congress Committee (AICC), aiming to control the narrative after BJP and television headlines portrayed his words as a sign of the opposition's lack of confidence in Rahul Gandhi's leadership.
BJP Seizes Opportunity, Vadra Adds Fuel
The BJP wasted no time in amplifying the issue. Party spokesman Shehzad Poonawalla asserted that Masood's remarks revealed a loss of faith in Rahul Gandhi and an attempt to position Priyanka in his place. This interpretation gained unintended momentum from Robert Vadra, Priyanka Gandhi's husband. In a separate interaction quoted by PTI, Vadra said his wife has a "bright future in politics" and predicted a time would come when people would want to see her in the top office.
Congress insiders are reportedly wary of such developments, as overzealous supporters of the Gandhi siblings often end up providing ammunition to the rival BJP, leading to damaging "Rahul vs Priyanka" headlines that the party seeks to avoid.
Masood Criticizes Shashi Tharoor
In the same breath, Imran Masood did not spare his own party colleague, senior Congress functionary Shashi Tharoor. He slammed the Lok Sabha member from Kerala for praising the "Bihar model of development." Masood called Tharoor directionless, stating, "He is at a stage in life where he is lost. He is with Congress and talks about BJP." He further questioned Tharoor's political strategy, noting that the BJP has no significant future in Kerala.
Earlier, Masood's initial remark had been more vivid: "Is Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister? Make her the PM and see how she will retaliate like Indira Gandhi. She is the granddaughter of Indira, who inflicted so much damage on Pakistan that those wounds still haven't healed." This statement set off the initial chain of political reactions and necessitated the subsequent clarification.
