Rahul Gandhi visits Amethi, says it is his home and family

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi began his two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Amethi on Wednesday. Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress party has done good work for the benefit of thousands of women and also in the development of national highways. The Congress leader, however, admitted that one thing which has been lacking in Amethi is electricity and roads barring national highways.

Rahul Gandhi visits Amethi, says Congress does not talk, but act

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi began his two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Amethi on Wednesday. The Congress Vice-President said the Congress does not talk but act. Rahul Gandhi reached along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Fursatganj in the evening and met people near the airport. He later invited an old woman to join him as he left the airport with his sister seated in the car behind. The woman, who hailed from Rampur, said Rahul Gandhi had stayed in her house to which the Congress leader, who nodded, said his relationship with her is old.

Rahul Gandhi: If you empower women, they can do anything

Rahul Gandhi: Every woman is an asset for India, we need to create opportunities for them
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi interacted with representatives of women from various sections organised by All-India Mahila Congress in Bhopal on Monday as a part of preparation of party's manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. A number of prominent women and representatives of self-help groups have also been invited to attend the meeting.
In his opening remarks, Rahul Gandhi said “There is a lot of talent here. I have come here to listen to you speak.. When I was young, the boss of our household was my grandmother. So I firmly believe women and men are equal and there should be equality”.
Striking a chord with the audience, the Congress leader said, “Women don't need anyone's protection; they need to be given their right and a place”. He then narrated a personal experience; “Once, I saw someone in Amethi beating up a woman... I stopped him asked him why? He said she hadn't cooked for him. That man had no concept of equality”
“All you must have felt that you're being pulled back at some point of time. We must remove that feeling in India” added Rahul Gandhi and added, “Violence can be physical and mental. Violence comes from an attitude that women are inferior. Yes, we have to fight violence but we must also change attitudes”
“I have learnt a lot from my grandmother and mother, but I have also learnt a lot from women in my constituency Amethi. One thing I have learnt is if you empower women, they can do anything” further said the Congress leader. “Every woman is an asset for India. We need to create opportunities for them” and informed “We will put reasonable suggestions, policy suggestions in the manifesto. And the next government will work towards implementing the manifesto”.
"We talk a lot about becoming a superpower in the world but till the women of our country do not feel comfortable and secured, our country cannot become a superpower. And to tell you the truth, we don't want such a superpower status, where women are not empowered," said the young Congress leader and said further, “"I know one thing, that if you have empowered the women, then you won't be able to stop them. Women can do anything they want. And every single woman is an asset of the country."
“There is a big battle ahead; we must for women empowerment; one important battle we have to win is the women reservation bill in Parliament.. We're not going to let go of it” said Rahul Gandhi.
“We will try to include all the important suggestions made by you. We need to empower the women, in her house and in the country. Every single Indian woman must feel that the road ahead her is open and she can go forward”, said Rahul Gandhi while concluding the interaction.
Around 250 women from various sections of the society across the country attended the meeting to interact with Rahul Gandhi.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi at AICC session (New Delhi), 17th Jan 2014

Congress President Sonia Gandhi at AICC session (New Delhi), 17th Jan 2014
Honorable Dr. Manmohan Singh ji, Vice President Rahul Gandhi ji, presented leaders, colleagues,
In all those speeches in this session we heard, there was kind of enthusiasm and self-confidence. It has proved from that our morale has been on high side and we are ready to face the coming challenge.
Many suggestions have come up and I think they should find place in our resolution. As Rahul ji has just said, those bills which are pending must get passed in the parliament soon. There are six bills which are the part of our policies to combat corruption. There are some bills too which were being mentioned by our colleagues, which make dalit, poor, tribal and differently disable more empowered. I am sure Prime Minister and his colleagues will pay their attention on these suggestions and we will try that these bills are presented in the coming session of the parliament.
All speakers had mentioned the achievements of Congress led UPA government in their speeches. Certainly it will be the part of election campaign. We publicize them as much as we can. There shouldn’t be any hesitation regarding this. The significant energy and excitement I am seeing in this hall is the proof that we can do anything we decide to do.
If we work with unity and discipline then no power can stop us. Therefore come and channelize your works so that in the coming days we can face the challenges. We should be united so that our battle ends with a triumph. And the future will be ours.
Jai Hind!

Rahul Gandhi at AICC meet: takes on BJP, ends speculations on PM candidate

Rahul Gandhi at AICC meet: We are not assembled here as individuals, but as the trustees of an idea
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi delivered an electrifying speech at the AICC Session being held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi and also took a dig at the opposition by saying that they are expert in marketing.
“We are not assembled here as individuals today. We are assembled here as the trustees of an idea, and we going to defend this idea. This idea is far greater than any one of us. It is greater than me, you, the Prime Minister or the Congress President. We respect the respect and dignity of every single one of our countrymen, regardless who he is”, said the young Congress leader amidst loud applauds from the gathering.
In an indirect attack on BJP, Rahul Gandhi said, “You have a opposition today and there is Congress. Both are different... They say whatever comes to their mind. They are good in marketing. They have songs, music and lot of other shining things for marketing. They are experts in such a way they sell combs to bald people”. Further in an apparent dig at AAP, the Congress Vice President continued, “Now, we have some new entrants. If the one section in opposition sells combs to bald, the new party has started hair-cut on bald heads” and warned “Please do not fall in their traps and words”.
Slamming Narendra Modi and BJP’s ‘Congress mukth Bharat’ campaign, Rahul Gandhi said, “Opposition campaigns for a Congress-free India. They neither know our history nor read history books. I want to tell them that Congress is not just a party, but a vision, an ideology which is deep rooted in the hearts and minds of common people- the ideology based on brotherhood, love and dignity. I want to tell the opposition that this is not a new vision but is 3000 years old.. Please keep it in your mind that this vision is not yet vanished from our culture in the past 3000 years and no one can ever do so. And whoever who tried to finish this ideology, got finished themselves”. “Democracy is not rule by the dictate. We have struggled for this from last hundred years. Democracy is not rule by one man. Democracy is ruled through the empowered elected representatives to you,” he added.
“We do not respond by turning people against one and another. We do not respond by the lighting the fires of communal hatred. No, we do not respond by proposing either that is structure of democracy be handed to one man or that viciously destroyed” said Rahul Gandhi in another indirect attack on BJP and said further, “The Congress party responds through peaceful and constitutional democratic means. We respond from the sole of the values that built this great nation”.



Ending all speculations about his prime minister candidature, Rahul Gandhi categorically said “Now, I want to talk about the Prime ministership... In our constitution, it is clearly written that the elected member of parliaments elect the Prime Minister. Congress is a party which respects constitution and its democratic principles. We will fight elections and we will win it. But our member of parliaments only will elect our Prime Minister. “I want to tell you one thing more. I am a sincere Sepoy of the Congress and I am ready to do whatever my party asks me to do. You just order and I will just obey it”, he assured.
Full text of the speech of Rahul Gandhi at AICC meet in New Delhi

Sonia Gandhi at AICC session: BJP’s way is to divide communities, to spread disharmony

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in her opening address at the AICC session being held at New Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium, gave a clear signal that the party is ready and prepared for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“We assembled here as the 2014 Parliament elections approach. We meet here to send a clear signal that the Congress is ready and prepared for the battle ahead” and sent a warning by saying “This election will see a sharpened contest between conflicting ideologies between conflicting interpretations of the past and between clashing visions of the future. It will be a battle for India as it was conceived by our founding fathers and as we cherish. It will be a battle for the preservation of our age old secular traditions of diverse communities living harmoniously in one composite national identity”.

She also took the opportunity to hit out at the BJP, without taking its name and said that it is spreading hatred among the people. “The biggest enemy is the communal forces and fundamentalist ideologies. Congress always worked to unite the country and its people. We also respected our diversity and committed for integrity. But what is the main agenda of our main opposition party?” and continued, “Opposition's way is to divide communities, to spread disharmony. It is to divide the society on communal lines and spread hatred in the name of unity to impose a single identity. They hide their real face behind the mask of moderate pretensions. They criticise our leaders and level false allegations against them and they go to the extent of spreading violence. How can such an ideology be tolerated?”

“As a Congress worker, we must be proud that we never compromised with such divisive ideologies and have always fought against communal forces” said Sonia Gandhi and emphasized, “Our culture ensures equality and dignity to all. For Congress, secularism is not a political compulsion but a matter of deep faith”.
The Congress President also touched on the issue of corruption and appealed to parties to rise above political considerations to ensure passage of anti-corruption measures pending in Parliament. “All Congress ruled states are committed to a new powerful and independent Lokayukta by the end of February, 2014. Crucial bills in our fight against corruption are pending in Parliament and we will do our utmost to get those bills passed when Parliament reconvenes next month and I appeal all parties to rise above political considerations and pass these bills” said Sonia Gandhi.



“In our long journey, we have seen many ups and downs. We have witnessed victories and faced defeats which are inescapable in politics. But we have kept ourselves vibrant. We must surge ahead amidst all challenges. There is one more factor and that is our strength to fight, which has kept us going, and will keep us going in the coming days. It is not my hope but my belief that we will continue our fight in the coming days and will emerge victorious overcoming all the challenges ahead of us” added the Congress President towards conclusion.

Boosting the morale of the Congress leaders, while ending her speech, Sonia Gandhi said, “We will be united in speech, our vision, our goal, and will emerge victorious in this struggle”.

Fulltext of the opening remarks by Congress President Sonia Gandhi at AICC meet inNew Delhi