Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on Tuesday addressed the growing clamour within sections of the party to project his wife as a prime ministerial candidate. His comments came after Congress MP Imran Masood publicly advocated for Priyanka Gandhi to be the party's face for the top post.
Vadra's Call to Focus on Public Concerns
Responding to the remarks, Vadra told the IANS news agency that while there are demands from various quarters for Priyanka Gandhi to step forward and even for him to enter politics, the immediate focus should lie elsewhere. "There are demands from everywhere that Priyanka should come forward. There are also demands that I should enter politics. But right now, we should focus on the real issues that concern the people," Vadra stated, subtly deflecting the political speculation.
Masood's Strong Pitch: 'She Will Retaliate Like Indira Gandhi'
The conversation was triggered earlier in the day by Congress MP Imran Masood. While defending Priyanka Gandhi's recent comments on violence against minorities in Bangladesh, Masood made a forceful pitch for her leadership. Speaking to ANI, he said, "... Is Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister? Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate like Indira Gandhi."
He emphasised her political lineage, adding, "She is Priyanka Gandhi. She has Gandhi added behind her name. She is the granddaughter of Indira Gandhi, who inflicted so much damage on Pakistan that those wounds still haven't healed. Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate. You won't dare to do that."
The Trigger: Priyanka's Stand on Bangladesh Violence
This political discourse was set in motion by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's recent intervention on social media platform X regarding the situation in Bangladesh. She expressed grave concern over the brutal murder of Hindu youth Deepu Chandra Das by a mob on December 18 in the Bhaluka area of Mymensingh district.
In her post, she wrote, "The news of the brutal murder... is extremely alarming. In any civilised society, discrimination, violence, and murder based on religion, caste, identity, etc., are crimes against humanity." She urged the Government of India to take cognisance of the rising violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities in Bangladesh and firmly raise the issue of their safety with the Dhaka administration.
According to police reports, the killing was allegedly triggered by accusations of blasphemy. In response, Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested seven people in connection with the lynching of Das, a 27-year-old garment worker and follower of Sanatan Dharma.
The incident has drawn strong condemnation from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, the country's largest minority organisation, which termed it a brutal act threatening communal harmony.
While the political talk around leadership continues within the Congress, the statements from both Vadra and Masood highlight how international issues concerning minority safety can quickly fuel domestic political narratives and internal party dynamics.
