Congress MP Imran Masood endorses Priyanka Gandhi as PM face; 'no faith in Rahul', claims BJP
NEW DELHI: Defending Priyanka Gandhi Vadras comments on minority violence in Bangladesh, Congress MP Imran Masood on Tuesday said Gandhi would prove to be a strong Prime Minister if given the opportunity, much like her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Speaking to news agency ANI , he said: Is Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister? Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate like Indira Gandhi. Masood added that she was the granddaughter of Indira Gandhi, whose leadership, he said, had a lasting impact on Indias adversaries. Masoods remarks came days after Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congress MP from Wayanad, condemned the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man accused of blasphemy in Bangladesh. In a post on X, the Congress leader described the incident as disturbing and urged the Indian government to take note of what she said was rising violence against Hindu, Christian and Buddhist minorities in the neighbouring country, and to raise the issue firmly to ensure their safety. The BJP, however, interpreted Masoods comments as evidence that the Congress had lost confidence in Rahul Gandhi. Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Shahzad Poonawalla said the remarks amounted to a call to replace Rahul Gandhi with his sister. Congress MP Imran Masood has clearly said that he has no faith in Rahul Gandhi anymore. Rahul hatao, Priyanka Gandhi laao. It cannot be clearer that no one has confidence in Rahul Gandhi, Poonawalla said. Poonawalla claimed that Rahul Gandhi is rattled because his party colleagues themselves are rejecting what he says with the latest example being Shashi Tharoor, who completely diffused his vote-chori (vote-theft) narrative by appreciating the work done by the NDA in Bihar over the last 20 years. Amid the BJPs claims, Rahul Gandhis brother-in-law and businessman Robert Vadra on Tuesday expressed confidence in his wife, saying many would like to see Priyanka Gandhi as Prime Minister someday and that it was just a matter of time. Vadra said: I think she has a bright future in politics and a bright future in changing what is required on the ground in this country. This will happen in time, it is inevitable. Vadra added that Priyanka Gandhi had learned from several leaders in her family. I think Priyanka also has learnt a lot from her grandmother Indira Gandhi, her father Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia ji and her brother Rahul Gandhi as well. People do admire her. When she speaks, she speaks from her heart. She speaks on subjects that really need to be heard, he said. The Congress has not issued an official response to the BJPs allegations and has maintained that Rahul Gandhi remains central to the partys leadership. However, the remarks by Masood and Vadra, and the BJPs sharp reaction, come in the wake of a section in Congress party demanding greater role for Priyanka Gandhi in the wake of successive defeats of Congress in the polls.
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