Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: It pains to see people leaving, but struggle will go on

LUCKNOW: Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday said that the defection of leaders given senior positions in the party causes pain but the fact is that they have backed out from the ideological battle which requires courage, commitment and consistency.

Priyanka said she is pained by the departure of Congress leaders changing sides, but the party’s struggle will go on.

In response to a question on national secretary

Imran Masood

’s decision to join Samajwadi Party, she said: “Resignations and joinings are part of every election. It does pain to see friends leaving despite efforts to stop them.”

Nearly a dozen leaders from UP have deserted the Congress since Priyanka took charge of the state two and half years ago.

She added that the leaders leaving the Congress have backed out from the larger cause for which the party stands.

“At least I would believe that they retreated from the ongoing struggle. Congress is fighting an ideological battle which requires consistency, commitment and courage,” she said.

When asked to comment on the role Congress sees for itself on a largely BJP versus SP turf, she said: “We are contesting elections in a state where we have been out of power for the last 30 years. That means that practically there was no organisation on ground zero when we started the work two and a half years ago. So, our first role was to strengthen ourselves, fight with all our might and win as many seats as possible. At the same time, our role is to work with the aim of ending the dictatorial rule in UP by a government which has forgotten all public interest.”