Rahul Gandhi in Meghalaya: India belongs to every citizen

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi while addressing a massive party rally in Meghalaya on Tuesday said that all Indians should enjoy equal space irrespective of their State, caste or religion. He also accused the Opposition of dividing the country. “This is the central difference between the Congress and our Opposition parties. The Opposition party feels that India is a place of one idea while the Congress believes it is a country of millions and millions of ideas,” said Rahul Gandhi. The Congress leader said that his party kept its promises of improving connectivity in Meghalaya. “Now there is direct road connectivity between Tura and Shillong. North Garo Hills is going to be connected by railway line from April 1,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi in Manipur: We will defeat BJP because we have the support of the people

Rahul Gandhi in Manipur: Only Congress respects the idea, culture and belief of every individual

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi while addressing a huge party rally in Manipur on Wednesday as part of his ongoing Lok Sabha election campaign said that Congress is the only party that respected the idea, culture and belief of every individual.
Rahul Gandhi while speaking at the rally at Wangjing Kodompokpi ground, 23km south of Imphal, in Thoubal district in the state, also struck a chord with the women, who comprised more than half of the gathering at the rally and said, “Manipuri women work harder than anyone in the country. But society does not give them power. We will love to introduce women like Mary Kom to Parliament and state Assemblies.”
The crowd was bigger than the Narendra Modi rally held in Imphal West last month. Rahul Gandhi glanced over the party’s achievements and future plans in Manipur — particularly a railway network to connect the state to the rest of the country. He highlighted the Congress’s role in the development of Manipur since it attained statehood in 1972. The Congress leader promised speedy development of the state if the UPA comes to power for the third term. “In 1972, Indira Gandhi came here and participated in a function that gave you your state, Manipur. She said that Manipur was a real gem. This also shows what the Congress thinks of Manipur – and not just about Manipur but every single state in the country…,” said Rahul.
Taking a dig at the BJP, Rahul Gandhi asked what the Gujarat model of development had got to do with Manipur, Meghalaya or Uttar Pradesh. “He (Modi) talks of the Gujarat model. But what does the Gujarat model have to do with Manipur? What does the Gujarat model have to do with Uttar Pradesh or Bihar or Meghalaya or any other state for that matter?… I respect the people of Manipur, and believe that the only model that should work for Manipur is the Manipur model,” he said.
“We are different from the BJP. We respect idea, culture and religion of each citizen while the BJP imposes its ideas on the people. The killing of Nido Tania was the outcome of the imposition of their idea,” said the Congress Vice President. “We will defeat them (the BJP) because we have the support of the people,” he added. "We don't want to impose anything on Manipur. We are proud of the language and culture of Manipur as we are proud of all others," said the young Congress leader, "India is garden of flowers; big, small, different colours. We respect each of these flowers. Our opposition wants only one kind," Rahul Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi also talked about the ongoing peace process with more than 20 militant groups of Manipur and withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from seven Assembly constituencies within the Imphal municipal limit. "Hospitals with 100 beds have been built in five districts, and sports complexes were being built in every district of the state, home to Olympian boxer Mary Kom," he added.
Rahul Gandhi reached the venue and the Congress workers gave a rousing welcome to their favourite leader. Wangjing neighbours Khangabok Assembly constituency, represented by Landhoni Devi, wife of chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, for two consecutive terms.

Rahul Gandhi says in Arunachal Pradesh: India belongs to all, every religion, caste, community

Rahul Gandhi says in Arunachal Pradesh: India belongs to all, every religion, caste, community

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi addressed a massive party rally at Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday and slammed the ideology of attacking migrants in various parts of India. Rahul Gandhi talked about the death of Arunachal boy Nido Taniam in Delhi and said, "An Arunachal boy was killed in Delhi. India belongs to all, every religion, caste, community."
“Arunachal Pradesh being a part of India, its people should enjoy equal privileges in every state of the country. Racial discrimination should be rooted out completely and Congress is committed to this," said the Congress leader adding, “India is for everybody and we get strength from each state of the country. Every state is like a flower which together makes up a bouquet”.
Rahul Gandhi also struck an emotional chord with the state and said, “I have never seen such a beautiful place anywhere in the country and am also willing to spend a few days here to enjoy the natural beauty”. “The literacy rate of the state has significantly improved in the past decade and the state government has launched several schemes for empowering youth and women,” he said and also referred to programmes like Skill Development Council, Employment Generation Council and the Chief Minister’s Livelihood Mission Schools.
"We should create an India in which all of you feel that wherever we go, we will be welcomed with open arms... Such an ideology which attacks North Indians in Maharashtra, Northeast people in Delhi... this is the ideology of opposition," the Congress Vice President said. "A lot of work has been done for women in the Northeast. All of India should get inspired by the way you treat women", he added. Rahul Gandhi also recalled that Itanagar has the first women police station in the Northeast. "Women should get reservation, that's why we are discussing a law for 33% reservation in Parliament," Rahul Gandhi said.
The Congress leader further said that women should get reservation, that's why we are discussing a law for 33 percent reservation in Parliament. He also recalled that "Indira Gandhi gave Arunachal Pradesh the status of a Union Territory in 1972, and Rajiv Gandhi later made it a full state."
“Roads, airport, railways have been built here. But the strength of Arunachal is your history and ecology. So, amid development, we must preserve ecology, the languages, the history of Arunachal. Without that, Arunachal, India cannot grow," said Rahul Gandhi. "There can be change only when there is devolution of power, when people, panchayats are empowered. That's why Congress gets your support," he asserted. "The Rs 10,000-crore road package provided by the UPA government to Arunachal during 2008 has immensely benefited the state as in the past few years the state witnessed vast development in infrastructure and road development," he added and hoped that the upcoming airport project and setting up of railway lines in the state would improve connectivity of the land-locked state with other parts of the country.
"The opposition wants to divide the people on political and religious lines, but we want to surge ahead for peace, progress and prosperity of people irrespective of their religion," said Rahul Gandhi. Referring to the immense potential in tourism, horticulture and hydro-power sectors in the state, he said that more focus should be given on these sectors for overall development of the state as well as the entire country.
Rahul Gandhi is in the Northeast for a two-day tour ahead of the upcoming General Elections.

Rahul Gandhi: I share the sentiments expressed by PM, Sonia Gandhi on 1984 Sikh riots

Rahul Gandhi: Congress represented an idea which respects the liberty and dignity of everyone

Congress Vide President Rahul Gandhi, in an interview with Press Trust of India (PTI), demolished the BJP’s claims that Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had been given a clean chit. He described the ‘clean chit’ as "politically expedient" and "far too premature".
“The election is a clash between two ideas of India,” said the Congress Vice-President. Rahul Gandhi also said that the Congress represented an idea which "respects the liberty and dignity of everyone and we uphold the ideals of humanity and inclusion", whereas the BJP wanted an India "in which there is no place for the poor, no place for those with a different religion or ideology. He said that the BJP seeks "an India in which power is centralized in the hands of individuals”. "The ideas that Mr Modi represents are dangerous for India," added Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress leader demanded that Mr Modi be held legally accountable for the "clear and inexcusable failure" of governance during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Rahul Gandhi echoed what the families of those who lost their near and dear ones have been have been saying for all these years that Mr Modi was answerable on moral grounds. “There are many unanswered questions. There is a lot more the country needs to know," he reminded.
The Congress Vice President also questioned the Opposition’s definition of “strong leadership”. "Yes, I believe that India needs a 'strong' leader but we must have a deeper understanding of what 'strength' means” he said and added "Strength to me, is not brute force or the ability to bulldoze your way through decision making in an autocratic manner....I do believe that an autocratic mindset that believes in dispensing with whatever is inconvenient to its notions is dangerous because such people tend to mistake what is right for what is expedient.” Responding to Mr Modi’s digs at him, Rahul Gandhi said that it is for the people of the country to judge a politician's language and choice of words".
The Congress leader also attacked the BJP for promoting corruption. “BJP had a Karnataka Chief Minister who went to jail on charges of corruption. Convicted and charge-sheeted ministers continued to be in the Gujarat cabinet. Their (BJP's) national president was seen taking money and was convicted," he said. Though he stressed that the judicial process must be strengthened and those guilty of corruption must be punished, he said that corruption can be eliminated only by creating an institutional framework. He said that Lokpal Bill and The Whistleblowers Protection Bill had been passed and there were 5 remaining legislations that would have completed this framework.
"Since the BJP took the lead in preventing their passage, I would like to ask them to explain their double speak. They manage to lament corruption and at the same time oppose bills that will fight it," Rahul Gandhi said. On being asked about the 1984 Sikh riots Rahul Gandhi said, “The Prime Minister of the UPA has apologised and the President of the Congress party (has) expressed regrets. I share their sentiments completely.” Congress will continue to safeguard the secular ethos of our country and we will fight the elements that threaten to destroy the social fabric of India.