‘They want jobs…’: Robert Vadra slams leaders who left Congress

Robert Vadra says he will join active politics “in due course”.

New Delhi:

As several high-profile figures leave the Congress, businessman Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, said the leaders were after “power and status” and expressed dismay at the party’s electoral struggles. The confidence to fight hard. Lok Sabha conducts public opinion polls.

“It’s not right to say there’s no confidence in Congress. I’ve seen these people, they have experience. Now they feel they need power, a vote or a seat, but they’re not putting the effort into it. It takes effort. If you feel like you ‘s identity is based on ministerial status and if that doesn’t exist… they shouldn’t worry. If they don’t get the ticket, it doesn’t mean they run away if some other party invites them, ” Mr. Vadra told ANI in an interview.

“Congress has given them a lot of legacy and done a lot for them and their families. When they’ve been in Congress for generations, they should have some patience to get back into power even if it’s difficult or it takes a long time. … Power is not everything. We will not be angry with them, we will say goodbye to them for a better future. But people will see them and feel that they do not belong to any particular party and go there for power or status. Only status It’s what matters to them,” he added.

Mr. Vadra was replying to questions about some prominent names like Vijender Singh, Ravneet Singh Bittu and Gaurav Vallabh leaving the party to join BJP inquiry.

He said some leaders left as they were not given tickets to contest the polls.
“They don’t think Congress has done anything for them. They feel they deserve status and identity, so when they don’t get the ticket or any other party makes an offer, they leave. We have seen this come and go Go. Years. When times change, you will see a lot of people will come back. But the Congress party, the Indian Group and the Gandhi family will speak out and fight for the people… I believe we will be able to lay a good foundation. “Fight. We will work hard for the people, and those who desire change will support us. We will discuss women’s security, unemployment and development,” he said.

Making his interest in contesting the Lok Sabha polls clear, Vadra said he met MPs from other parties who approached him with offers to join their parties and assured that they would ensure his victory in the elections.

Mr Vadra also said the people of Amisi want him to represent their constituency if he wants to become a Member of Parliament.

Mr Vadra said he wanted Congress secretary-general Priyanka Gandhi to become an MP first and then he could follow her. “I always wanted Priyanka (Gandhi) to become a member of Parliament first and then she would go to Parliament and then I felt, I can’t and I am here too. I feel that through my hard work and with the blessings of Sonia Gandhi and the Congress party, I should become (a Member of Parliament),” he said.

“I would also say that because I have been meeting people for so long, and MPs from other parties, when I meet them they also speak to me with love and say from our party Why did it take you so long (to Parliament) and we will make sure you win by a huge margin,” he added.

While expressing his ambition to become an MP, Vadra also spoke of leaders he encountered who underestimated the “troubles” he faced “every day”.

Robert Vadra says he will join active politics “in due course”.

“Not from different parts of the country, there are invitations, but from different political parties, you are from our side and we will support you because I have friendships with some people who transcend party lines and they see my efforts and understand it and I The troubles they face every day, they understand it. They feel that if you are in Parliament, then the answers you give, you can give on a big platform and the work you are doing can be done on a big platform. “If you are in Parliament , then the scale is very large. There were several offers, there was pressure and the idea was to work harder, stay among the people and I would definitely attend at the right time,” he said.

Targeting Union Minister Smriti Irani, who represents Amethi, Vadra said she did not visit the constituency often and people felt electing her was a mistake.

Smriti Irani defeated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Amethi, a stronghold of the Nehru-Gandhi family, in one of the biggest upsets in the polls one. Mr Vadra, who had earlier expressed his electoral ambitions, said the Gandhi family was working hard in Amethi and surrounding areas.

“They want a member of the Gandhi family to come back and they will make him win with a huge margin and they also expect that if I take my first step in politics and consider becoming an MP, then I should represent Amethi,” He said. Vadra said the decision on Amisi and Rai Bareilly would be taken by the Congress leadership. “I am not saying that I will contest against Amithi or Priyanka will contest against Ray Bareilly. The decision will be taken by the Congress party.”

Mr. Vadra said he joined hands with Priyanka Gandhi to campaign for the Congress party in Amethi during the 1999 Lok Sabha polls.

“Politics were very different in those days and people were trying to create fear among people. We used to visit sensitive areas at night, put up posters, distribute bags, work hard day and night with our workers to make them believe that we were there and ‘they should Continue to work in your own area and stall. They know how hard we work and the brotherhood and love is still there,” he said.

“People who work with me… in my office, at my residence… they send messages through social media, cut cakes on my birthday, arrange langar or other services for people because they know I like that. This is the way it is in this country.” I am seen staying among people, working as hard as I can for disabled and blind children, and spending all my money on charity. I go on religious trips, they celebrate my birthday and celebrate festivals in my name, and Distribute it to people there,” he added.

Mr Vadra was asked if he could be a candidate from Amsi. The Congress is yet to nominate candidates for the Amethi and Rae Bareli seats in Uttar Pradesh and the party is contesting the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

Rahul Gandhi won the last Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad in Kerala and is contesting again from the seat.

The Congress election committee in Uttar Pradesh last month “unanimously recommended” that members of the Gandhi family should contest from Amethi and Rabarei Lok Sabha constituencies.
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has represented Rae Bareli since 2004. She is now elected to the Bundestag.

The Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)