NEW DELHI — In a recent interview with a private media outlet, Faisal Khan, the son of the late senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, has stirred a political hornet’s nest by praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Khan’s comments, which described the two as “great leaders,” have led to widespread speculation and drawn reactions from various political quarters.
“Modi Ji, Shah, EAM Jaishankar, and Nitin Gadkari are handling things in a great way. The country is in safe hands,” Khan said in the interview.
He also publicly disagreed with Rahul Gandhi’s assessment of India’s economy, which was in line with President Donald Trump’s “lifeless economy” remark. Taking a further swipe at the Gandhi family, Khan asserted that lineage and heritage should be earned through merit, not inherited.
This is not the first instance of Faisal Khan expressing views that diverge from the official Congress party stance. His father, Ahmed Patel, was a close and trusted confidant of the Gandhi family for decades, a relationship that makes Khan’s comments particularly noteworthy.
Reactions from Political Circles
The statements from Khan have been met with a mix of surprise and criticism within the Congress party. While an official statement has not yet been released, sources within the party have indicated disappointment and a feeling of betrayal. Some party functionaries, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested that Khan’s comments were a result of his dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership, which he had previously hinted at.
Meanwhile, the BJP has seized on the opportunity to criticize the Congress. BJP leaders and supporters have been quick to share clips of the interview on social media, using Khan’s words to attack Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership. They have portrayed his comments as a validation of the Modi government’s performance, even from within the ranks of its staunchest political rival.
The interview has amplified the ongoing debate about the future of the Congress party and the role of legacy politics in India. Khan’s remarks are being viewed by some as a sign of internal dissent within the Congress, while others see them as a calculated move to position himself politically, given his previous expressions of frustration with the party’s “top brass.” The comments have added another layer of complexity to the political landscape, especially in Gujarat, where his family holds significant influence.
