Patna, Jan 27 (NationPress) In an exclusive interview with IANS on Tuesday, former Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad disclosed that he previously advised Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP), to engage in regular temple visits rather than confining such activities to election cycles. However, he claimed that his counsel was disregarded.

Ahmad’s comments arise in the wake of a political storm ignited by his public labeling of Rahul Gandhi as a “darpok (coward)” and an “insecure” leader, which has elicited strong backlash within Congress.

A three-time MLA and former MP from Bihar, Ahmad resigned from Congress following the last Bihar Assembly elections and has been vocal in his criticism of the party's current leadership.

Earlier today, Ahmad alleged that he had received “secret information” from former party associates indicating that the Congress high command had supposedly ordered an attack on his residences in Patna and Madhubani under the guise of protests and effigy burning. In response to this claim, security measures were heightened outside his home in the Phulwari Sharif area of Patna.

“I urged him to maintain his visits to temples. He would visit them during election periods, but vanished from Bihar after the elections,” Ahmad remarked to IANS.

Increasing his criticisms of Rahul Gandhi, Ahmad stated, “Sitaram Kesari passed away two decades ago, and only now has Rahul paid tribute, just before the Bihar elections. He manipulated the AICC machinery to position himself as a ‘Janeu-dhaari Shiv Bhakt Brahman’, and six months later, he aligned with Lalu ji, making statements that even our Brahman leaders found embarrassing.”

While affirming the importance of supporting backward communities, Ahmad emphasized that such efforts should not undermine others. “Promoting backward communities is commendable, but it should not come at the expense of those who are already progressing,” he stated.

Ahmad further asserted that Rahul Gandhi seems “allergic” to established Congress figures such as Shashi Tharoor and P. Chidambaram, alleging that the LoP prefers to keep the attention on himself. “He aims to only highlight himself,” Ahmad noted.

In contrasting the Gandhi family members, Ahmad claimed that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Sonia Gandhi have made substantial contributions to the party, unlike Rahul. “Rahul only surrounds himself with those who flatter him,” he added.

He also claimed that senior leaders are being marginalized in favor of Youth Congress and NSUI members during discussions with Rahul Gandhi. “Now, only Youth Congress and NSUI leaders are favored over senior figures like us,” he alleged.

“I have not levied any serious allegations. I spoke as a friend of Congress. I have no intentions of contesting elections,” Ahmad added, expressing concern about the party leadership’s mindset of sidelining existing leaders.

“His belief is that leaders exist due to a family legacy. He aims to exclude them, making room for those chosen by him. He keeps track of everyone’s age. He is eliminating individuals over 55, while he himself will turn 56 this June,” he remarked.

He also claimed that the Youth Congress and NSUI have suffered due to this strategy.

“He prefers to engage with leaders from those groups because he feels more authoritative. It was not possible to question him when I was among senior leaders,” Ahmad shared.

Ahmad reiterated that his “friends” from the Youth Congress had informed him of an alleged directive from Delhi to target his residences.

“They indicated there would be an attack on my homes in Patna and Madhubani under the pretext of burning my effigies. I notified the authorities,” he said.

He added that shortly thereafter, the Youth Congress made a formal announcement for a protest.

“They stated that on orders from the top leadership, they would burn my effigy. Burn it if you wish. But I object to burning an effigy -- as a Muslim, I believe that if you wish to destroy me, you must bury me. Burning an effigy corrupts my faith. Who is the high command? It is Rahul Gandhi,” Ahmad alleged.

Questioning Rahul Gandhi’s political viability, Ahmad stated that his future “is entirely reliant on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

“It is understood that Congress is the second choice, yet its condition remains dire. It’s akin to two children racing, and one is boasting about finishing second. If Modi ji becomes unpopular, Rahul Gandhi may rise in popularity. If Modi ji remains favored, I see no bright prospects for Rahul Gandhi,” he commented.

Reflecting on his first encounter with Prime Minister Modi, Ahmad commended the Prime Minister’s attentiveness.

“When I first met Modi ji, I thought he wouldn’t recognize me. We shook hands, and I introduced myself as ‘Shakeel Ahmad.’ Modi ji responded, ‘You say very unfavorable things about me.’ I retorted, ‘It is my role to say such things about you.’ As a minister and spokesperson, his recognition of a minor leader like myself demonstrates his alertness,” Ahmad concluded.