Pushkar (Ajmer)/Jaipur, June 2 -- Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday told Congress district presidents that advancement within the party would come not through sycophancy but through sacrifice, hard work and sustained engagement with the people. Addressing the concluding session of the Congress party's 10-day national training and brainstorming camp in Pushkar, Gandhi urged district presidents from Rajasthan and Delhi to move beyond internal party circles and reconnect directly with citizens, stressing that rebuilding public trust was essential for the party's revival. Gandhi conducted two interactive sessions focused on organisational strengthening, teamwork, ideological commitment and public outreach. He emphasized that Congress workers must stand with the poor, marginalised and disadvantaged whenever injustice occurs. "If a poor or vulnerable person faces injustice, every Congress worker, district president and leader should be seen standing with them," Gandhi told participants, underlining that the Congress tradition was rooted not in the pursuit of power but in fighting for the rights of society's weakest sections. Gandhi cautioned district presidents against limiting themselves to interactions within the structures of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs) and district organizations. Using a live demonstration on stage, he called several district presidents and explained how party leaders often remain confined within organisational hierarchies, believing their political responsibilities end there. Gandhi urged them to break out of what he described as a "protective layer" and establish direct contact with people. He said Congress leaders must listen to public grievances, understand local issues and remain constantly engaged with ground realities. According to Gandhi, only leaders who maintain strong grassroots connections can help rebuild the organization and restore public confidence in the party. He also asked district presidents to challenge what he termed as the BJP's "false narrative" through direct public engagement and issue-based politics. During the session, Gandhi used a role-play exercise to explain what he described as the difference between Congress culture and the functioning of some other political parties. Calling Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra onto the stage, Gandhi had him stand on a chair and invited several other leaders to perform different roles. Some were asked to stand with folded hands, others to offer exaggerated gestures of respect, while senior Congress leader Ramlal Jat was assigned the role of pulling the chair. Through the demonstration, Gandhi sought to illustrate how political advancement in some parties is often perceived to depend on pleasing powerful leaders and cultivating personal loyalty. He contrasted that with what he called the Congress tradition, saying that party workers do not need to "circumambulate" senior leaders or engage in flattery to secure tickets or organizational posts. "The path to recognition in Congress is through dedication, struggle and service," he told participants. Expanding on the theme of merit and hard work, Gandhi said some individuals may rise due to family influence or political connections, but genuine respect and lasting success are earned through discipline and perseverance. Citing cricketer Virat Kohli as an example, he said Kohli had built his stature through years of relentless effort, discipline and commitment to excellence. Touching upon issues of religion and social cohesion, Gandhi appealed for unity and warned against divisive politics based on caste and faith. He told participants that all human beings are fundamentally equal, irrespective of whether they are Hindu or Muslim, noting that every person is made up of the same five elements. Society, he said, should resist attempts to create divisions on religious or caste lines. The remarks formed part of a broader appeal for social harmony and inclusive politics, themes that have increasingly featured in Gandhi's public speeches. The camp also served as a feedback platform where district presidents from Rajasthan and Delhi discussed governance issues and organizational challenges with Gandhi. Several Rajasthan leaders reportedly informed him that the BJP government in the state had failed to deliver on key promises and had discontinued a number of welfare initiatives launched by the previous Congress administration. According to party leaders present at the camp, Gandhi praised the coordination between Dotasra and Jully and said the manner in which Rajasthan Congress leaders were working together could serve as a model for party units in other states....