In Kerala, Rahul Gandhi addresses fishermen Thrissur, targets Modi govt

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed a fishermen's gathering at a village in Kerala's Thrissur. “Land is becoming very valuable and it is owned by farmers, they have spent last 50-60 yrs working on it. Central government wants to take their land away. So we are fighting them. The kisan (farmer) is asking me why is the NDA government intent on destroying us. Why are they not giving us the correct Minimum Support Price? Why are they not giving us compensation when rain and hail destroys our crops?” said the Congress leader.

Rahul Gandhi meets North-East students at Jantar Mantar, assures swift action

Rahul Gandhi: There is only one India, where every single person is treated with respect and justice
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday joined the students from the north-east protesting at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding strict action against those involved in the killing of Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, who was beaten to death in Lajpath Nagar. He promised very strict action apart from setting up of a committee to look into the treatment meted out to people from the region.
“There is only one India which is matter to me and that India is an India where every single person has respect and justice and treated fairly. There is no other India that I am interested in as far as I am concerned whether you are from north earth east or south India or you belong from any other religion” said Rahul Gandhi.

 Here is the full text of his brief address to the students:

 What happened here is completely unacceptable. I understand your sentiment 100%. You have mentioned to me what you are looking for. You are looking for a committee and you are looking for strict action. We have already started to work on these two things so you can expect very strict action against the people who did this. You can expect a detail study will be done by a committee on the issues on north easterners in this country. We are trying to move forward on that. There is one question arises; which India matters to you?
There is only one India which is matter to me and that India is an India where every single person has respect and justice and treated fairly. There is no other India that I am interested in as far as I am concerned whether you are from north earth east or south India or you belong from any other religion. There is only one India and that Indian is for all of us and I want you to understand this very-very clearly. We are going to fight for that and we are going to ensure that you will get respect in this country full-stop. I was looking at the picture of Nido and to me he represents this country. Like all of you he represents this country.”
It doesn’t matter where he comes from. Who he is? What he is look like? These things do not matter, for me only one thing matters that he is Indian. Because he is Indian and because he is Indian he deserves respect, he deserves justice, he will get it. I am here with you and I shouldn’t be on stage I should there with you because my spirit and my heart is 100% with you. Many- many people in this country, majority of this country, actually believe that everyone deserves respect. There are few people who do not believe this but majority of the people believe, the majority of the people think every India deserves respect, deserves love, deserves justice.

Lokpal: Anna thanks Rahul Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi thanks Anna for his encouragement

Lokpal: Anna thanks Rahul Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi thanks Anna for his encouragement
New Delhi: With the Lokpal Bill slated to come up in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi replied back to Anna Hazare's letter and thanked him for his encouragement in the passage of Lokpal Bill.

In his letter he said that the government is trying its best to give country a strong Lokpal Bill. Here is the full content of the letter to Anna Hazare by Rahul Gandhi.

“Thank you for your letter dated 15 Dec, 2013. It gave me encouragement in the passage of Lokpal bill.

We are committed to provide the people with a strong and efficient Lokpal bill. I take this opportunity to appreciate your role in it and also we are very grateful for your support in this regard”.

Rahul Gandhi has taken charge of his government's efforts to pass the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, which will be taken up in the Rajya Sabha today with support across the political spectrum barring the government's ally, Samajwadi Party. Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, who is on a fast in his village in Maharashtra to demand a Lokpal law, has given his blessing to the government's efforts with a letter to Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday morning called two ministers - Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and minister in charge of the Prime Minister's office V Narayanasamy - to discuss strategy to push the Bill in Parliament. The Congress Vice President on Saturday appealed publicly to all parties, including allies, to support the Bill. He denied that his party's initiative was linked to its humiliating defeat in the Delhi elections. Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party or AAP made a stunning debut with its promise to fight corruption, decimating the Congress after three terms.

Anna Hazare has written to Rahul Gandhi thanking him for his support to the Bill. He has disagreed vehemently with Arvind Kejriwal, his one-time protege, who has said the Lokpal Bill lacks teeth. In an equally warm reply, Rahul Gandhi wrote to Anna that his party was trying to give the country a strong Lokpal and acknowledged the 76-year-old Gandhian's role in the proposed law.

Rahul Gandhi: Lokpal bill is important for India; all parties must set aside differences to pass it

New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, while addressing the media persons, emphasized that his party is committed to pass the Lokpal Bill in the Parliament. He also urged the parties -- both allies and the opposition- to support the legislature in Parliament. "We would like opposition and other parties to ensure the Bill is passed. This is a matter of national importance. We would like all parties to put aside their concerns and do this job," Rahul Gandhi said at the press conference, flanked by union ministers P Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal.

Rahul Gandhi urges all parties to set aside differences and support Lokpal Bill

Rahul Gandhi: Congress is committed for Lokpal Bill, requests all parties support to pass it
New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, while addressing the media persons, emphasized that his party is committed to pass the Lokpal Bill in the Parliament. He also urged the parties – both allies and the opposition- to support the legislature in Parliament.

"We would like opposition and other parties to ensure the Bill is passed. This is a matter of national importance. We would like all parties to put aside their concerns and do this job," Rahul Gandhi said at the press conference, flanked by union ministers P Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal.

The Congress leader denied that his party was in a hurry to pass the Bill to redeem itself after its defeat in state polls. "This is not a question of defeat or victory. It is a big step towards tackling corruption, it should be taken and the bill must be passed," said Rahul Gandhi.

“This is a bill of national importance and there is broad consensus. Congress is ready to support it,” he added. If we can get support of all parties, we can pass Lokpal bill.. . This Bill will help India in a big way. We are at the finishing stage. Congress is committed to pass it. We request all others to support it”, urged the Congress Vice President.

Expressing concern over the continuing logjam in the Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said “Congress has been struggling to pass the Lokpal Bill. But Parliament has been disrupted”. “Lokpal Bill is not a solution to all issues, but it is a big step. We must pass Lokpal bill” he said replying to a question.
“We have been working a frame work to curb graft. The most important step was RTI. And now, Lokpal Bill is also one among them. It also can be a powerful tool to tackle corruption”, said Rahul Gandhi. “RTI was the most important step to curb graft. We are committed to provide an anti-corruption legislature. Lokpal is an addition”, he reiterated.

While responding to the queries, the Congress leader asserted, “Our duty is to provide measures to tackle corruption. We gave you RTI and now Lokpal is also ready,” and cointinued, “We are 99% through on Lokpal Bill. What we need is 1% movement or push from political parties so that we can deliver on Lokpal Bill”.“Lokpal bill is important for the country. We must set aside all differences and other concerns and must work together to get it passed. All parties must come together to support this legislature. That is all what we wanted to say in this press conference. Thank you,” said Rahul Gandhi while ending the press meet.

Rahul Gandhi: Whatever we write on our manifesto, we will accomplish that

Rahul Gandhi: Whatever we write on our manifesto, we will accomplish that
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi held a meeting with SC/ST representatives to discuss Congress Manifesto. He launched the consultations – Your Voice, Our Pledge – with the 235 representatives from NGOs and groups working for upholding the rights of the deprived sections comprising dalits, tribals and OBCs, and assured to bring a change in the manner politics is played behind closed doors.

“We started this process to open to these close doors gradually. There are two closed rooms in Indian politics, one is policies and other one is ticket. We want to open these two rooms in this 21st century. This is the reason I have come here and discussing this with you. It’s not a mere paper but it’s a commitment for us when our party forms a government. Whatever we write on our manifesto, we will accomplish that,” said Rahul Gandhi.

“The Congress has to completely transform itself and it has to give voice to our biggest supporters. It cannot continue to operate the way it does. It means developing, and promoting leadership among these communities and making them run, there is no other way around. Everything else is history. You are seeing right now the first step of that process. In the Youth Congress we have been doing this for years. We understand how it is does very well. We have all the system to do it. We are going to implement and you are going to see the difference,” Rahul Gandhi said.

“Everybody talks big things. The basic problem is in this country that 500 people run this country. And until we move from 500 people running this country to million people running this country, real change in this country is not going to come. This is something that I understand deeply. And if there is anything I want to achieve in my political career is to a place where 500 people run this country or certainly the Congress party to place where thousands and thousands youngsters like you tribal, dalit, OBC, upper, Hindu, Muslim run this country.



Until we move to a place where you running the country you are not going to get what you want, that what we want to do. We have to go forward by including people not only in manifesto but also in ticket distribution.” Rahul Gandhi added.

The Congress party also said the private sector should have reservation in jobs to effectively implement the plan for affirmative action. Congress plans to release its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections by the end of next month by incorporating suggestions it receives during similar consultations it plans to hold across the country. The consultations were only the beginning, Rahul Gandhi said.