New Delhi:
Don't go beyond party line and keep the debate dignified - Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had this stern warning for party spokespersons and panellists at a conclave today on the party's communication strategy ahead of the 2014 national elections.
"Spokespersons and panellists may have their individual views, but as party spokespersons and panellists, you have to be within the party line. We cannot go beyond party ideology. Those who go beyond will be noticed and action will be taken," Mr Gandhi said.
The warning came on a day the Congress was forced to issue a clarification on the remarks of party general secretary Shakeel Ahmed and party MP Rashid Masood that the 2002 Gujarat riots had led to the formation of terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM).
On Sunday, Shakeel Ahmed, General Secretary for the Congress, had tweeted: "Indian Mujahideen was formed after Gujarat riots, says NIA in its charge sheet. Even now BJP and RSS will not desist from their communal politics?"
He was referring to a chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after 10 serial blasts took place at Bodh Gaya in Bihar earlier this month.
"It is not the party line as of now," spokesperson Renuka Choudhary said today.
Mr Gandhi asked Congress leaders to be "decent" in their language and focus on positive politics, at a time both the Congress and the BJP have been known to slug it out on the social media as well as TV channels.
"Keep the level of debate dignified; don't let the language or the attack be below the belt. We are the party of Mahatma Gandhi," the Congress vice-president reportedly said, addressing some 200 party men from across the country.