Rahul Gandhi has urged Congress foot soldiers to keep the protests coming, think out of the box and stay battle-ready for the long haul. From bandaged fingers to 'ghost protests', he praised their innovative tactics and hailed them as 'Babbar Sher,' while reportedly predicting that the Modi government had only eight to nine months left.
The message was clear: Rahul Gandhi wants to keep his guerrilla tactics in full swing through frequent, high-impact protests. (Credit: Congress/X)
On the eve of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) calling for a mega protest in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi administered a booster dose to his foot soldiers at Indira Bhawan, urging them to remain battle-ready and prepare for surprise events.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, accompanied by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, met Youth Congress, NSUI and Seva Dal workers over tea.
Many of them have been at the forefront of the party’s recent protests, facing detentions, injuries and even stints in Tihar Jail.
The interaction was marked by pep talks, personal appreciation, anecdotes from protest sites and a call to sustain the momentum of the agitation.
KEEP CARPET BOMBING, THINK DIFFERENT: RAHUL'S BATTLE CRY
According to a source who spoke to India Today, Rahul Gandhi urged attendees to intensify their agitation through a sustained series of protests and innovative tactics.
“We have to focus on events and continue carpet bombing every second or third day. We have to continue the series of attacks and think out of the box,” Rahul Gandhi reportedly told the workers.
The message was clear: Rahul Gandhi wants to keep his guerrilla tactics in full swing through frequent, high-impact protests.
FROM BANDAGED FINGERS TO 'GHOST PROTESTS': RAHUL LAUDS INNOVATIVE TACTICS
Rahul Gandhi appeared upbeat about the performance of the three outfits, singling out the innovative protest strategies adopted by the NSUI and Youth Congress, as well as the Seva Dal's efforts.
He complimented NSUI workers for their symbolic protest with bandaged fingers and Youth Congress workers for their much-talked-about 'ghost protest'.
The Congress has increasingly resorted to dharna politics, with enthusiastic workers engaging in repeated confrontations with the Delhi Police.
Interestingly, Rahul Gandhi was also curious about the tactics used by protesters. During the interaction, he reportedly asked how the buses carrying him and other detained leaders were getting punctured and what methods the workers had employed.
Priyanka Gandhi, meanwhile, asked party workers about their experiences behind bars. Anil Yadav, enthused by the interaction, posted a picture with Priyanka Gandhi and wrote: “Didi ne poochha, jail ki hawa kaisi thi?”
A list of Youth Congress, NSUI and Seva Dal workers who had been at the forefront of the agitation over the past two weeks was drawn up for the interaction.
Several workers were identified by name and personally praised for their courage and role in the protests.
Among them was Akash, who suffered a fracture in his right leg during a confrontation with the police.
Recalling his experience, Akash said: “It was at the Le Meridien Circle that I was being badly beaten up. There were lots of cops on top of me. I recognised Bhaiya’s cargo pants and shoes, and I said, yes, this is Rahul Gandhi. I called out to him. He saw me and rescued me. My life was saved.”
Akash was not the only worker to receive personal attention.
Rahul Gandhi reportedly asked several workers where they had come from and about their experiences during the agitation.
'BABBAR SHER': RAHUL'S PERSONAL TOUCH SENDS WORKERS' MORALE SOARING
Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with the workers was also marked by personal encouragement. He patted several workers on the back and hailed them as 'Babbar Sher' (lions).
“We are full of enthusiasm. It was a privilege to be here. Bhaiya knew everything — who was doing what. Even Didi (Priyanka Gandhi) praised us. Now our morale is sky-high,” said another worker.
The workers said the personal recognition from the top leadership had given them renewed confidence ahead of the next phase of protests.
TWO DOZEN FIRs, BUT NO FEAR: YOUTH CONGRESS CHIEF
Youth Congress chief Uday Bhanu Chib, who reportedly faces more than two dozen FIRs, described the cases against him as a badge of honour.
“We are very happy. Nothing could be better than meeting a leader and drawing inspiration from him. We are ready to run and are on standby mode. He has called us Babbar Sher, and we have no fear. I have more than two dozen FIRs in my name. I’m ready for more,” Chib said.
Expressing confidence about the agitation against the Chief Election Commissioner, he added: “We are sure that the CEC is about to go. Over 80 IYC workers have been injured, some have received stitches, some are still in hospital and some are in Tihar, but they are all raring to go.”
'MODI GOVT HAS ONLY 8-9 MONTHS': RAHUL'S POLITICAL PREDICTION
Amid the pep talk and preparations for the next round of agitation, Rahul Gandhi also reportedly made a political prediction.
According to another worker who spoke to India Today, Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence that the Modi government had only eight to nine months left and would not be able to sustain itself beyond that period.
The remark, attributed to Rahul Gandhi by the worker, reflected the Congress leadership’s confidence as it prepares to escalate its political offensive.
FROM INDIA BLOC HIGH TEA TO CONGRESS 'PAATHSHALA': BUILDING MOMENTUM
The meeting at Indira Bhawan came shortly after Rahul Gandhi hosted a high tea for INDIA bloc leaders and members of civil society, including Neha Bora, as well as youth representatives from other political outfits.
There was restlessness among party cadres over the top brass bringing youth leaders from other political outfits into the fold while not looking within the Congress for its own heroes.
While the high tea focused on building a broader political and civil society coalition, the interaction at Indira Bhawan appeared aimed at energising the Congress’s own organisational machinery, which holds the key to the party’s new avatar.
With the leadership praising the workers’ recent efforts and calling for sustained, innovative protests, the Congress appears to be preparing for a prolonged confrontation.
The message from Rahul Gandhi’s 'paathshala' was unmistakable: keep the momentum alive, innovate, stay battle-ready and prepare for the long haul.
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