Dignity of Congress not negotiable: Rahul

Asking partymen to be "aam admi ke sipahi (common man's guard)", Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on a day's whirlwind tour in Kolkata to rejuvenate the party, today said dignity of the organisation was not negotiable.

Asking partymen to be "aam admi ke sipahi (common man's guard)", Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on a day's whirlwind tour in Kolkata to rejuvenate the party, on Monday said dignity of the organisation was not negotiable.

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"Congress has been entering into alliance with parties in different states, but with self respect. Dignity of the party is not negotiable," Gandhi was quoted by Congress General Secretary K Kesava Rao as saying.

He, however, did not comment on the Trinamool Congress, the party's alliance partner in West Bengal, during an 80-minute interaction with party functionaries at 'Bidhan Bhavan', the state Congress headquarter here.

Earlier, while addressing a party rally here Gandhi did not mention the alliance between Congress and Trinamool Congress.

"You are aam admi ke sipahi. We are Congress party's army and Congress is working for the people. Your first and foremost duty is to work for the people," Rao, who is party in-charge of the state, quoted him as saying.

Briefing reporters on Gandhi's interaction with party leaders including the PCC and district Congress functionaries, Rao said Gandhi was likely to tour six to seven districts for three days from September 14.

Rao quoted Gandhi as saying that when he decided to go to Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, where the party then had a poor presence, he was dissuaded by senior leaders, but he chose to go ahead with his trip. "Now Congress is in good standing in both UP and Tamil Nadu. The same initiative should be taken in Bengal."

The Youth Congress, at the instance of Gandhi, has taken up a massive membership drive for youths in the state.