Photographs posted by a Congress worker that purportedly shows party vice-president Rahul Gandhi in the hills have triggered another round of media activity about the leader’s “leave of absence” from politics.
Sources close to Mr. Gandhi told The Hindu that the photos posted by party worker Jagdish Sharma were from 2008. “This is an unnecessary controversy that is being created,” the source said, adding that Mr. Gandhi was abroad.
Jagdish Sharma, a Congress activist frequently seen at the 24, Akbar Road headquarters of the party, has styled himself as a supporter of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over the recent years. Mr. Sharma was seen leading the crowd outside Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s 10, Janpath residence on the day of the Delhi Assembly polls, demanding that Ms. Vadra should lead the party. In fact, Mr. Sharma is understood to be man behind the posters that occasionally appear in Delhi calling for Ms. Vadra’s takeover of the party.
Mr. Sharma claimed Mr. Gandhi was in Uttarakhand and said he released the pictures to counter the reports that suggested the leader was abroad. “A nice person like Rahul ji is being defamed by people. I cannot take it,” he told news agencies. “Big leaders may have their own reasons for keeping Rahul ji ’s location under wraps. I am an ordinary worker and have no reason to hide the truth,” he said.
Congress spokesperson P.C. Chacko said Mr. Sharma has nothing to do with the party.
Mr. Gandhi has given a miss to the Congress rally on Wednesday at Jantar Mantar to protest against the changes brought about by the BJP government in the country’s land acquisition policy. Congress has termed the changes a throw back to the old law that was changed during the previous Congress government.
