Barnala: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday cautioned Punjab Congress leaders over internal factionalism, stressing the need for teamwork to strengthen the party ahead of upcoming political battles.
Addressing a rally in Barnala, Gandhi said, “Work happens through teamwork. A single player cannot win the game. We have the entire team sitting here. I want to send a message — become team players, or you will be made to sit in reserve.”
He added that no individual is bigger than the party. “No matter how big you are, nobody is bigger than the Congress. If you don’t function as a team player, I and Mallikarjun Kharge will set things right,” he said, addressing senior leaders present at the rally.
‘Strength lies with party workers’
Gandhi said the real strength of the Congress lies in its grassroots workers. “Whatever happens in Punjab will happen with respect for our workers,” he said.
Targets PM Modi over US trade deal
Gandhi also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-US trade negotiations, alleging that the government had conceded key agricultural interests to the United States.
Referring to US President Donald Trump, Gandhi claimed that while Parliament proceedings were underway, Modi called Trump and expressed readiness for a trade deal without consulting his ministers.
He alleged that commodities such as soybean, walnuts and almonds had been opened up for American imports, which could adversely impact farmers in states including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
“America’s goods are coming in. Modi has opened the door,” Gandhi said, claiming that Indian farmers would bear the brunt of the agreement.
