Rahul Gandhi takes charge as Congress President

Rahul Gandhi took over as Congress President on Saturday.

The Gandhi scion is taking over as the party's chief from his mother Sonia Gandhi who served as partypresident for 19 years.

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The Congress vice-president was handed over the certificate for taking over as the party's chief at a function at the party headquarters 24, Akbar Road.

The party's outgoing president Sonia Gandhi congratulated and blessed Rahul Gandhi for taking charge as Congress President.

''Indira Gandhi treated me like her own daughter and I learnt a lot about India from her. In 1984, Indira ji was assassinated and I felt I had lost my mother and that incident changed my life forever,'' said Sonia Gandhi.

Since childhood, Rahul Gandhi had to bear the brunt of the violence. After joining politics he had to face blatant personal attacks, that have made him a stronger person, said Sonia Gandhi

''Rahul is my son, so I do not think for me to praise him is right but I would say that since childhood he had to bear the brunt of the violence, after joining politics he had to face blatant personal attacks, that have made him a stronger person,'' she said.

''My support was taken away from me after Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi passed away. It took a long while to come to terms with it,'' Sonia Gandhi added.

Sonia Gandhi's address was interrupted by the noise of incessant fireworks.

Speaking on the occasion, former prime minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh said that Rahul Gandhi was taking over as president when there are certain disturbing trends noticeable in politics.

''Rahulji is taking over as president when there are certain disturbing trends noticeable in politics.As a distinguished academic pointed out that there are dangers that politics of fear will take overpolitics of hope, Rahul ji, we depend upon you to transform and sustain politics of hope, said Manmohan Singh.

The party's outgoing president Sonia Gandhi, Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi'sister Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra and several Congress party leaders and cadres were present on the occasion.

Manmohanalso saluted Sonia Gandhi for uniting the party for 19 years and said that Rahul Gandhi would bring a sense of dedication and commitment as party president.

''Now, that Sonia Ji is handing over reins of the party to Rahul ji we salute Sonia Ji for uniting the leadership, something that she has been doing since 19 years. Rahul Ji brings a new sense of dedication & commitment as party president,'' Manmohan added.

I am sure the party will scale new heights of glory under Rahul Gandhi, he further said.