National Herald case: Raebareli Congress workers erupt in joy after Sonia's bail

Click here for National Herald case timeline New Delhi: For the Congress party and its followers, Saturday, 19 December will be remembered as the day of its president Sonia Gandhi. She has been hailed as the ‘mother, daughter and the undisputed leader’ of Raebareli by hundreds of men and women, who came all the way from this district in Uttar Pradesh to express their solidarity.[caption id=“attachment_2552730” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Congress workers celebrate in New Delhi. Naresh Sharma/Firstpost[/caption] A placard displaying a slogan Raebareli ka Toofan, Badlega Saara Hindustan (‘The storm of Rae Bareli, will change the course of India’) at the lawns of All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters at 24 Akbar Road virtually came to life, the moment senior Gandhi flanked by her son Rahul and senior leaders like Motilal Vora and Ahmad Patel reached the venue, to address the media. The mood got electrifying immediately in the Congress headquarters and continuous slogans hailing Sonia and her mother-in-law, former prime minister Indira Gandhi got reverberated. The party ensured a special arrangement for the gathering of all those, who came from Gandhi’s constituency – Raebareli. Men and women of all ages wearing green headbands with ‘Raebareli’ written on it, holding Congress party flags and placards bearing slogans could be seen waiting eagerly for their leader’s arrival. Though in India’s political history this date will also be remembered as both the Congress president and vice president, Sonia and her son Rahul had to appear before the court, but the post-granting of bail celebration virtually made the Congress president, a symbol of Congress resurgence. As she stepped out from the press briefing to leave for her residence, all hell broke loose and the frenzied crowd from her constituency rushed ahead to greet her, the Lok Sabha MP from Raebareli. All these, of course, to hail her for getting bail from the court in the National Herald case. Poonam Verma, a 20-year old student in brown salwar-kurta, who came with a group 40 women from Rohiniyan block in Raebareli said, “Raebareli had always been with the Congress and will remain with it throughout. Madam (Sonia Gandhi) is not only our leader but also our mother. My grandmother tells she is the daughter of Raebareli. Today’s incident is a befitting reply to the conspiracy against her. She, along with Rahulji will come out clean in this case. “We all have come from Rohiniyan to express our solidarity to her in this bad time. She’s our only leader,” said 24-year old Asha, who came with her group by bus. " “Woh (Sonia) humaari amma hai. Uski jeet, humaari jeet hai (She’s is our mother. He victory is our victory’),” said an overwhelmed 60-year-old Shanti Kumari, with tears in her eyes. Clad in sari and a thick shawl wrapped around her, she was accompanied by her son and neighbours from Jagatpur block in Raebareli. Supporters from various blocks have come in separate groups in trains and buses. Ramnivas Vaish (52), president of Cooperative Society, Dalmau block in Raebareli remarked, “Madam is an integral part of all the families of Raebareli. For decades, people of this district have shown allegiance to Nehru-Gandhi family. We’ve come by our own to support her. This is the beginning of resurgence of Congress.” Wearing a green turban (Saafa) on which ‘Raebareli’ was printed, Gurbaksh Singh, a businessman from Dalmau was quick to add, “BJP said that it would make Congress-mukta (Congress-free) Bharat, but no body can do it. Congress is an integral part of Indian politics and under Madam’s leadership, it’ll emerge stronger. We’ve seen it in Bihar election.” After Sonia left the AICC office, her supporters from her constituency got into a celebration mode in groups. Taking group photographs, selfies, talking to news channels and enjoying snacks were a part of it. Speaking to Firstpost, former Lok Sabha Speaker and senior Congress leader, Meira Kumar said, “The enthusiasm amongst the supporters and workers you see here is a reflection of their deep-rooted sentiments for Soniaji and the Congress party. The sentiments of women who have come from Raebareli for their leader can’t be ignored and they all have come here to show their unity. This issue is a case of pure political vendetta, as false charges have been levelled against us. This shows how intolerant the Centre has become. The party will fight it out politically.” Added another Congress leader from Odisha, Sucharita Mohanty, “This is a beginning against vendetta politics. Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi appeared before the Court as a common man, and by asking the party to restrain from going over-the-board, they showed that they are law abiding citizens. This is a strong message to Modi-government that wants to put Congress under pressure through unlawful manner. It’s a political victory of the Congress.”