Hit back at Modi, Congress tells workers

Shakkel Ahmed had tweeted earlier this week: 'Indian Mujahideen was formed after the 2002 Gujarat riots'

If you thought Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed was pulled up by the party leadership for indicating that the 2002 Gujarat riots led to the formation of terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen, think again. Ahmed was not only backed by stalwarts like Digvijaya Singh. Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari had also urged party workers to gear up to face the challenge posed by Narendra Modi ahead of the general elections.

The recent remarks of these three leaders point to the party line that it would squarely take on Modi, election committee chairman of the principal opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), instead of ignoring him as mere media hype.

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Ahmed had tweeted earlier this week: “Indian Mujahideen was formed after the 2002 Gujarat riots.” As this gave rise to a political storm, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Congress of “rationalising a terror outfit”, Ahmed tweeted again clarifying all he had done was to reiterate media reports on the issue,  based on the National Investigation Agency’s chargesheet.

THE NEW STRATEGY

• Congress General-Secretary Shakeel Ahmed was pulled up by the party leadership for indicating that the 2002 Gujarat riots led to the formation of terror outfit Indian Mujahideen
• Ahmed was backed by stalwarts like Digvijaya Singh
• Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari had also urged party workers to gear up to face the challenge posed by Narendra Modi ahead of the general elections
• The recent remarks of these three leaders point to the party line that it would squarely take on Modi

In fact, contrary to the common perception, Ahmed’s visit to Congress President Sonia Gandhi had nothing much to do with his controversial tweet.  

Digvijaya Singh’s remark to reporters that "religious fundamentalism is at the root of terrorism" seemed to have bolstered Ahmed’s views. Singh has been vocal in his anti-Modi criticisms. Recently, after Modi said he was a Hindu nationalist, Singh had tweeted: "Shouldn't we all be Nationalist Indians rather than Hindu Nationalist or Muslim Nationalist or Sikh Nationalist or Christian Nationalist?"  

Now, the Congress is encouraging other leaders to join the bandwagon.

While political pundits were splitting hairs about the Congress official line, Tewari left no room for doubt when he told fellow party workers on how to  tackle the challenge posed by Modi.

Tewari advised them "not to be diffident" but to hit back, taking strength from the party’s “secular credentials”.

The minister indicated corporate groups were using television channels to project Modi in a larger-than-life image.

He urged them to don the role of a  "Ranvijay" (one who wins the battle) and not "Ranchhod" (one who runs away from the battlefield).

Congress insiders confirm that there had been a shift in the party line from refraining from acknowledging Modi and dismissing him as a BJP hype to one that has accepted the reality of Modi as an opponent. 'We cannot any longer ignore the fact that he is the principal Opposition party BJP’s Election Campaign incharge – so he needs to not only be countered but attacked whenever the occasion requires.'