Act as mentors, not tormentors: Jairam Ramesh to senior Congress leaders

Senior Congress leader and former union minister Jairam Ramesh is out once again—asking for the exit of old guards in the party—which is being refurbished under the new president Rahul Gandhi ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Urging the seniors to act as “mentors and not tormentors”, Ramesh appealed to Rahul to ensure that young leaders take over the reins before next year’s Lok Sabha polls. He was speaking in Kolkata. Stressing the need for a new team for Rahul Gandhi, he said the Gujarat Assembly poll results was an indication that the party was making a comeback.

Earlier in 2015, he had created flutter asking those above the age of 60 to play an advisory role rather hanging as full time office bearers. “We must get the 30-year-olds and 40-year-olds in positions of prominence (in Congress). The time for 60-year-olds, 70-year-olds and 80-year-olds is over,” Ramesh said. “You must reflect India. The median age in India is 28. So, there must be a generational shift, and there was a generational shift when Rajiv Gandhi became prime minister (in 1984),” he added. Ironically Ramesh’s own age is now 63.

The comment has once again brought back the old guard versus gen-next battle that …read more