(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM)
Today Congress welcomed Rahul Gandhi as its 87th president, marking a generational shift at the helm of India’s oldest political party. Gandhi is set to take over the baton from his mother Sonia Gandhi, who, at 70, is its longest serving chief. Ms. Gandhi has indicated that she is ready to retire even as the party spokesperson clarified that her remark was in reference to the post, not politics as a whole. Congress will meet any challenge with love and affection: Rahul “Like many Indians across the country, I am an idealist,” begins Mr. Rahul Gandhi in English. “But many of us are disillusioned today with what we see in politics today. It is devoid of kindness and truth. Today politics is used to crush people, not lift them. Politics belongs to the people.

“The moment you challenge the structure of power to stand with the power, you are attacked. To weaken you, they lie and distort. The Congress had taken the country to the 21st century but our Prime Minister is taking us back. We are now being told only one man is the voice of reason – that everything is subservient to him. Our foreign policy is in tatters so that one man can be strong. “They want to weaken us but they can do that only if we back down. Stand up to them. We at the Congress promise that we will defend the voice of every Indian. We will never allow to silence the voice of every Indian. I want the Congress party to become an instrument of dialogue for all Indians.

Switching to English, he continues. “Congress is an ancient idea. BJP would like you to believe their idea is the oldest, this is not true. We consider the BJP our brothers and sisters, though we don’t agree with them. We do not fight hate with hate. They crush voices, but we allow the most vulnerable to sing. Congress has always and will always meet any challenge with love and affection. It is with utmost humility that I accept this position.” The ceremony winds up with the National Anthem.