Last Updated: February 23, 2024, 10:36 IST
Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique with Rahul Gandhi. (Instagram)
MLA Zeeshan Siddique also said that Muslims have no place in Congress and claimed that the party had the worst communalism among all parties
Son of former Congress leader Baba Siddique Zeeshan Siddique, who was recently sacked as president of the Mumbai Youth Congress on Thursday alleged that he was asked to lose 10 kgs of weight in order to meet party leader Rahul Gandhi.
Siddique, while addressing a press conference, claimed that when Congress’ ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ reached Maharashtra’s Nanded and he requested an audience with Gandhi, the MLA was informed by Rahul Gandhi’s team that he would first need to shed 10 kilograms.
“During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, I was walking in Nanded when a person close to Rahul Gandhi told me ‘pehle chal 10 kilo kam kar phir tereko Rahul ji se milwaunga’ (First lost 10 kg weight, then I will make you meet Rahul Gandhi),” said Zeeshan.
“I am your MLA, chief of Mumbai Youth Congress. And you are body-shaming me? I am still walking, no,” he added.
The Congress MLA further claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s people are ruining the party’s image and are rude adding that after such treatment, his decision to stay with Congress despite his father’s switch, now might change.
“Till last week, I told everyone that I would remain with Congress. But now I can not say for sure because the party is failing to serve the minorities. So minorities should also keep their options open,” Siddique said.
Congress Doesn’t Have Space for Muslims: Zeeshan Siddique
MLA Zeeshan Siddique also said that Muslims have no place in Congress and claimed that the party had the worst communalism among all parties and he faced harassment because of his religion
“I won’t say I will remain in the Congress, but I will discuss my political options with my supporters (first),” said Siddique whose father and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique recently quit the party and joined the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
“I have been repeatedly saying that even though my father Baba Siddique joined the NCP, I will remain with the Congress, but still action was taken against me,” Zeeshan said.
He bagged 90 per cent votes in the election for the Mumbai Youth Congress president’s post, and still, the party took nine months to appoint him to the post, he said, adding, “I was harassed a lot because I am a Muslim.” “Muslims have no place in the Congress.