Youth must follow Chandy's path, says Rahul Gandhi
Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi fondly remembered Chandy saying that the former chief minister was a guru to him in many ways and was a guru for many people in Kerala. The Congress leader also said that a guru shows directions through his actions, and Chandy showed us the direction not by talking or thinking, but through his actions. Gandhi also urged the youth in the state to follow Chandy's footsteps.
Gandhi said that in the 21 years of his political life, Chandy was a great influence as he was the master of understanding people's feelings.
"I literally saw him kill himself for the people of Kerala," said Gandhi, referring to Chandy's participation in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022 during which the former chief minister walked alongside Gandhi despite doctors' request against doing so.
Gandhi recollected that when he told Chandy about what the doctors said, he refused to obey. Gandhi said he finally managed to persuade Chandy to stop walking after a certain distance.
"We had to literally forcibly take him back to the car," said Gandhi, adding that only a leader who feels for the people can do that.
"For me, Chandy is not just an individual but an expression of Kerala politics. My aspiration is to develop more and more people like Chandy," Gandhi added.
Gandhi also said that he learned a lot from Chandy. "He got the most brutal and unfair political attack on him, which I would say was a criminal attack.
Non-stop lies were spread about him. I used to talk to him over the phone regularly those days. I never heard him speak angrily about anyone. He was always balanced and humble," he said.
Gandhi said Chandy implemented cochlear implantation for children with hearing loss. This is a very rare disease, and he did not undertake this aiming for a vote bank. He only wanted every single child to hear the voice of others. "This is the politics of realising the feelings of others," he said, adding that this is where he fights with the ideologies of RSS and CPM.
"My biggest complaint is that they do not have a feeling for people," he said.
"You are not a leader if you do not feel with the people or if you are not ready to connect with the people," he said. Gandhi also said that the biggest tragedy of Indian politics is that there are only a few people who actually feel what others are feeling. Gandhi concluded by stating that it was a great honour for him to take part in the remembrance meet.
During the function, Gandhi inaugurated the Smrithi Tharangam programme implemented by KPCC. KPCC president Sunny Joseph presided over the event. Gandhi also handed over the keys of 11 houses constructed by Oommen Chandy Foundation.
Various religious leaders, Congress leaders and people's representatives spoke on the occasion.
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