New Delhi, July 22
Stressing consonance of opinion on critical issues confronting the party, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today sent out two clear messages to all spokespersons: Don’t cross the party line and don’t cross the limits of decency in media debates.

Inaugurating the first of its kind communications workshop for Congress spokespersons, Indian Youth Congress and National Students Union of India delegates here, the party’s heir apparent didn’t mince words in his 10-minute address to delegates where he said different voices were coming out of the party on single issues.

Rahul’s admonishment came a day after Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed tweeted that terror outfit Indian Mujahideen was formed after the 2002 anti-Muslim Gujarat riots. The party was quick to dissociate itself from the remarks today, with national spokesperson Renuka Choudhary saying the Congress didn’t ascribe to the view.

Clearly displeased at Shakeel Ahmed’s out-of-turn Tweet, Rahul told 250 Congress workers today, “Each one of us should say the same thing on one issue. There is a growing trend of everyone talking in different voices. The party line needs to be honoured because when you represent the party on any media platform, you are representing the institution and not just yourself as an individual. Once you follow the party line, you in fact do service to yourself.”

To drive home the point, Rahul reportedly signalled to Congress Communication Department chief Ajay Maken at the conclave to “see that everyone speaks in one voice and act against those who don’t.” For one voice to be heard, the Congress today launched a unique social media network tool called ‘Khidkee’. Being termed as a “Window for the Congress family”, it allows workers to SMS queries online to know the party’s view on major issues.

Rahul earlier promoted this tool for the Youth Congress and from today it has become the party’s one stop shop for online engagement. A special help desk was set up today to enable everyone to sign up.

That apart, Rahul, who stayed to hear Food Minister KV Thomas on the food ordinance today, set another important limit for party men to honour when he asked them to counter a “negative Opposition with decency”. He told participants to “choose their words very carefully when engaging on platforms like TV, Twitter etc”.

Sukhpal Khaira, spokesperson, Punjab Congress, one of the delegates, admitted, “The vice-president asked us to argue our point on the basis of facts and truth and never lose sight of decency when taking on the Opposition.” Nimisha Mehta, another delegate from Punjab, concurred.

Even when replying to queries about Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi allegedly misusing social media to “contrive” his popularity, Rahul, during an interactive session with his colleagues later, asked them to avoid “negative politics”.

His message went down deep as was clear from Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda’s presentation on social media later where he reportedly referred to fake accounts in Gujarat but didn’t mention who (read Modi) was the beneficiary.

Many delegates while talking on the condition of anonymity (several vocal Congressmen like MP Sanjay Nirupam were silent on what happened in the conclave today) said the issue of people disregarding the party line weighed heavily during the deliberations.

The Congress has had a long history of “out-of-line” talkers such as Digvijay Singh. But since Ajay Maken assumed charge of Communications, senior party leaders can be seen calling him up to know the “Congress line” before making a comment. Clearly the Rahul effect.