The RaGa fan behind 'Rahul Milk', 'Rahul Onions' and more
A Gorakhpur Congress member has gained attention for his unique initiatives supporting Congress President Rahul Gandhi. In the last years, Anwar Hussain has launched several products themed on the Gandhi scion: Rahul Milk, Rahul Herbal Tea, Rahul Roses, even Rahul Onions! Now that his idol is chief, leaders like Hussain would help fulfil Gandhi's dream of a 'grand old young party', party workers said.
Hussain led campaigns where party workers wrote letters in blood
Hussain joined the Congress in 2005 after being bowled over by Rahul Gandhi, who attended a Youth Congress meeting in Gorakhpur that year. It was in 2014 when he gained media attention for distributing 'Rahul Milk' in response to BJP's 'Chai pe Charcha'. The next year, he led a campaign where Congress workers wrote letters in blood to the party leadership for Rahul's elevation.
Hussain even faced FIRs for his love for Rahul
In 2016, after demonetization, Hussain distributed 'Rahul Herbal Tea' when he heard of people fainting in bank/ATM lines. The same year, he pasted posters showing Rahul as 'Singham', a cop, while opposition leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Asaduddin Owaisi and Mayawati facing various charges plead before him; an FIR was filed against Hussain. When onion prices soared, he sold 'Rahul Onions' at Rs. 5/kilo.
His efforts didn't go unnoticed by the party
Ahead of UP elections this year, Hussain distributed 'Rahul Roses' to voters. With his idol's elevation, he will now try to get "more and more (youths) to join the party". In his own apartment, Hussain has a picture gallery dedicated to Rahul; even his coffee mug bears the party chief's photo. His efforts haven't gone unrewarded either: he is now Congress' district general secretary.
Meanwhile, a big test for the newly-inducted Congress chief
Will Rahul 2.0 who takes up Congress's mantle be able to draw votes? This question will be answered by year-end when both Gujarat and Himachal go to polls. Presently, Congress is at an all-time low with only 44 LS seats and only five states having Congress governments. In case Congress performs abysmally in the upcoming elections, they might want to re-think their prime-ministerial candidate.
