Rahul, Sonia talk tough on discipline

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 22

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is learnt to have told party leaders to maintain discipline in the run-up to 2019 General Election.

Days after Congress MP’s “Hindu Pakistan” comments created furore in political circles, Rahul Gandhi, without naming anyone, said in the CWC while there was freedom of expression for everyone, people should honour the discipline of language and behavior, especially when it comes to matters of party line.

“Congress president said he was giving friendly advice to all Congress leaders to set their eyes on 2019 and follow the discipline of language and conduct. Freedom of expression was there but when party line is involved, everyone should respect it and look at the larger battle ahead,” Congress media head Randeep Surjewala said.

UPA chief Sonia Gandhi also stressed the need for Congress leaders to stick to discipline and on party line on important issues.

At the CWC, Rajya Sabha MP Kumari Selja, who was one of the 35 speakers, is learnt to have flagged challenges on the front of discipline in Haryana where state leaders are chalking their own independent election strategies with cohesion lacking. Her reference was to former state CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, CLP leader Kiran Choudhry and Randeep Surjewala holding their independent rallies and programmes, with overall cohesion missing.