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Congress leaders conceded that it was this friendship that paved the way for Congress-NC coalition. As per the original plan, Farooq Abdullah was to land in Delhi on Monday to talk to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, but the Congress wouldn’t agree. Omar finally reached the Capital in the evening by a special aircraft.
Asked on Wednesday whether Farooq was replaced by Omar under Congress pressure, AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, “Obviously, it’s a decision on which both coalition partners were consulted. It is not antagonistic as you are suggesting, but collaborative, constructive and consensual effort by both partners.”
According to Congress sources, while former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, a friend of Abdullah family, played a key role in negotiations with the NC, it was Rahul’s backing that was the clincher for Omar.
Since his appointment as AICC general secretary in September 2007, it was not often that the Amethi MP played such a pro-active role on crucial issues. Congress leaders watching him closely in the past 15 months believe that 2009 will mark a defining year for the young scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family who now looks more confident and eager to assert his authority on the party’s policies.
Early half of his tenure as AICC general secretary was marked by diffidence. He had, for instance, always been an ardent advocate of Indo-US civil nuclear deal, but chose to remain quiet during all those turbulent months for the Left-supported UPA Government.
He spoke out only after Congress president Sonia Gandhi rallied her party behind PM Manmohan Singh to face a trust vote on July 22 in the Lok Sabha. In fact, a changing Rahul was evident during the weeks leading to the trust vote; the Amethi MP had taken the initiative to call up SP leader Amar Singh, which finally led to a rapprochement between the Congress and SP.
Rahul used to do most of his talking at meetings of the Group to Look into Future Challenges, a think tank set up after his induction in the organisation. He would, for instance, harp on introducing “internal democracy” in the party. His attempt to hold election in Punjab unit of the IYC and in Uttarakhand unit of the NSUI has met with disapproval from his party colleagues. In the past 15 months, the only contribution of this group has been to produce a report on intra-party reforms, which has been gathering dust in Congress president’s office.
The past six months has been a period of gradual transformation though. His remarks about Pakistan giving a “slap on our face” through Mumbai terror attacks at the recent CWC meeting came as a surprise to many. He has also been taking increasing interest in key appointments. Rahul was learnt to have tilted the scales in favour of Ashok Chavan as Maharashtra CM.
Congress sources said there were clear indications that Rahul Gandhi, who has been trying to build his own team instead of relying on Old Guards, was gearing up to play a more pro-active role in the organisation.
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NEHRU DYNASTY’S FIASCOSIt is an insult to the intelligence of 100 Crore Indians when journalists even hint that Rahul G. could be the next PM, just because he was born in a particular family,which incidentally is responsible for all the ills of this nation, since 1947. His great grandfather, the country's first PM bungled in Kashmir in 1947 and again in NEFA (Arunachal) in 1962. His grandmother Indira G., meddled in the affairs of West Pakistan's problem child, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Pakistan, though 'silently thankful' to us for helping them get rid of their liability, publicly denounces us for dismembering their nation and wants to avenge the same in J
It is an insult to the intelligence of 100 Crore Indians when people/journalists even hint that 'Rahul Baba' could be the next PM, just because he was born in a particular family, which incidentally is responsible for all the ills of this nation, since 1947. His great-grandfather, the country's first PM bungled in Kashmir in 1947 and again in NEFA(Arunachal) in 1962. His grandmother Mrs.Indira Gandhi, meddled in the affairs of West Pakistan's problem child, East Pakistan(now Bangladesh). Pakistan, though 'silently thankful' to us for helping them get rid of their liability, publicly denounces us for dismemberment of their nation and vows to avenge the same in J
It is a known fact that the Indian Express is the publicity manager for the Gabdhi's but their constant spotlight on Rahul Gandhi is a bit immature and reeks of sychophancy at its worst.
all mp-mla r corrupt and rahul is same.they dont understand what is india and her desperate needs.we ened safety and security we dont want dalal-netas we want leaders who will lead india and also make pakistan/saudi arabia secular democracy so jihad ends forever.to start with let netas be sent to to kashmir-north east etc form 6-12-36 months minimum to fight against jihaids so they get real knowledge we as a country face.cut out the farce,let pioliticians be given a real drubbing.all mp-mla shud have age limit like other services.stop jihad on world and india its going on against us for 1400 years.ENUF IS ENUF.
The fact that Omar Abdula had to put forwad his credentials or rather his kinship befoe Rahul clearly proves that unless one close to the Nehru family one has no place to estb lish one merits.What a shame that one has to be Nehru or Gandhi!.Omer took Rahul down the memory lane to remind that their respective grand father came from the same common stock! In this state of affairs how punie Congressmen can be blamed!Margarate Alva failed to recognise this fact and suffered. If the so called Gen.Kaul was made the Chief of the Army Staff though he should have been cashieried long ago for inefficiency but being a kin of Nehru he reched the top at the costs of professional silgier!
Another piece of sycophancy to a novice of indian politics. Merely taking birth/being part of this family in Nehru clan does not make him/her a great leader. It is the contribution of an immature democracy, media and a country of slave-like minded people that turns them hero. That is why it is not a big surprise that we accepted partition, we have been facing onslaught of divisive forces frequently, purverted theory of secularism which thrives on the continued devaluation of ethical values of BHARAT and what not. From this band of group, we normally hear slogans like INDIA at 60. These are the kind of people who belongs to group of feeding/jumping deers in jungle totally oblivious of its one or more members being killed/devoured by wild animals somewhere nearby. Mumbai is forgotten. We are now again celebrating new year with no lessons from past events like we have been doing since centuries.
From the photos, I noticed some that Omar looks somewhat like the late Prime minister Mr Rajiv Gandhi, Are these people related?
How nice! Let us celebrate our democracy where we have the Gandhis, Abdullahs, Scindias and others continue to serve their poor brethren with such dedication! And let's celebrate our free and fair press too, how they don't see anything wrong in this. As long as they get royal treatments and five star lunches and some awards thrown at them once in a while, they will keep singing their paeans!