Rahul Gandhi's tribute to Sitaram Kesri: PM recalls how Congress humiliated own party chief

Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes at a black-and-white-portrait of Kesri, who died in 2000 at the age of 81

After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid tribute to former party president Sitaram Kesri on his 25th death anniversary, the BJP alleged that the Leader of Opposition was paying respect due to the upcoming Bihar election.

In a post on X, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, “Once upon a time, at instructions of the first family of Congress, Sitaram Kesri was humiliated - his dhoti torn , locked up and heckled to clear the throne of Congress for Sonia Gandhi.  Today Rahul pretends to pay respect because Bihar elections are close.”

Poonawalla also questioned the Congress on its action towards Dashrath Manjhi’s son? “Who are they fooling? What did they do to Dashrath Manjhi’s son? What did they say about Bhagat Singh ji - equated him to Hamas! What did they do about Birsa Munda ji..,” he said.

The BJP leader alleged that Gandhi had deep hatred for Biharis and OBCs. “Has he condemned comments of DMK or Revanth Reddy on Biharis ? Has he said a word on Congress calling Bihar as Beedi? Did he condemn PM Modi’s mother being abused by congress RJD,” he stated om X.

Rahul paid floral tributes at a black-and-white-portrait of Kesri, who died in 2000 at the age of 81, at the old party headquarters at 24, Akbar Road. The site has deep historical ties to Kesri's leadership journey in the Congress.

Senior leaders KC Venugopal and Gurdeep Singh Sappal among others were present at the function.

A Congress delegation had gone to Dhanapur where his body was cremated in 2000. However, the party had never commemorated his birth or death anniversaries in the past.

Known for his roles as president of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee and treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, Kesri's contributions remain significant, especially with the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.

However, he was ousted as party chief on March 14, 1998 through a contentious meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC) masterminded by leaders such as late Pranab Mukherjee. According to reports, the meeting  was followed by some party workers booing him and even trying to pull off his dhoti while returning home in his damaged car.

PM remembers Kesri

While addressing a rally in Bihar’s Samastipur district on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remember Kesri. " The nation can never forget how this Congress family humiliated Sitaram Kesari. Today reminds us of what the Congress can do to snatch away the rights of Dalits and backward communities. For them, only their family matters the most. Sitaram Kesari, who was the Congress President and pride of Bihar, was locked in a bathroom in his own house by this family. They even threw him out onto the footpath, and they stole the Congress presidential insignia that belonged to Sitaram Kesari,” said the PM.