New Delhi : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks equating the RSS and the CPI(M) sparked unease within the INDIA bloc, with Left leaders raising the issue during the alliance’s virtual meeting on Saturday. Gandhi at an event in Kerala, were flagged as inappropriate and potentially divisive by leaders of the Left parties, who warned that such statements could send the wrong message to cadres on the ground.
Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said during a speech in Kottayam on Friday that he fights both the RSS and the CPI(M) ideologically, but his main complaint against them is their lack of “feelings” for the people.”I fight them in the realm of ideas and in the realm of speech. But, my biggest complaint is that they do not have feelings for the people,” he said while addressing a memorial meeting to mark the second death anniversary of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
“If you are in politics, feel what people are thinking, listen to them, and touch them. The real tragedy in Indian politics today is that very few people are actually feeling what others are feeling,” he added. CPI leader D Raja raised the issue during the INDIA bloc’s online meeting, without directly naming Rahul Gandhi. He is learnt to have said that such remarks, equating the Left with the RSS, should be avoided as they create confusion among cadres and can damage the unity of the alliance.
Another leader present reportedly pointed out that when the INDIA bloc began its journey, the common slogan was ‘Desh Bachaao, BJP Hataao’, and that no one should make statements that foster conflict within the bloc or draw comparisons between the Left and the RSS. CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby had strongly criticised Gandhi’s comments earlier, calling them “unfortunate” and a reflection of a lack of understanding of the political realities in Kerala and India.
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