Bihar polls: Rahul Gandhi questions PM's silence on food prices

Araria (Bihar): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over rising food prices and questioned his silence on the issue. "Modi is responsible for the soaring prices of pulses and other essential commodities. But his silence has shocked the people," Rahul Gandhi said at an election rally in Araria district. "The Modi government has deprived the poor of dal, roti and 'bhat' (rice), not to talk about imposing other problems," Rahul Gandhi said. "The poor curse this government," he added. The Congress leader said the references to Pakistan during the ongoing assembly election in Bihar showed the desperation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

PM Narendra Modi thinks he can run the country alone: Rahul Gandhi

In an exclusive interview to India Today Group on the sidelines of his election rally in Araria, Rahul said, "Neither BJP nor RSS has any vision for the country. Their philosophy, USP is to divide and rule." "The country had a lot of expectation from Prime Minister Modi. He made huge promises but nothing has happened. I think he should talk less and work more," Rahul Gandhi said.

Bihar: Rahul Gandhi addresses Congress poll rally Barbigha, targets PM Modi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a party election rally in Bihar’s Barbigha district said the people of Bihar will teach a hard lesson to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state assembly polls as he failed to fulfil his promises. "Modi has failed to fulfil any promises made to the people. High prices of pulses and other essential commodities in the country have angered the people but he is still talking big and doing nothing," said Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi: People of Bihar will teach lesson to PM Modi in polls

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a party election rally in Bihar’s Madhubani district said the people of Bihar will teach a hard lesson to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state assembly polls as he failed to fulfil his promises. "Modi has failed to fulfil any promises made to the people. High prices of pulses and other essential commodities in the country have angered the people but he is still talking big and doing nothing," said Rahul Gandhi.

Stop lying, start working: Rahul Gandhi tells PM Modi in Bihar

Motihari: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi tore into Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the false promises he had made to the people of India. "Stop lying and start working," the Congress vice president said at a rally in East Champaran’s Motihari, two days before the third round of voting for state polls. "Now the PM is realizing that the people of India are smart and they are wise to his lies. Modiji, stop lying and start working," Rahul Gandhi said. "He promised Acche Din (good times), said he would bring down prices, but today the price of dal is Rs 200/kg and Modi is silent," said Rahul Gandhi. The results of the five-phase polls will be announced on November 8.

Bihar: Sonia Gandhi addresses Congress election rally in Buxar, slams Centre

Congress President Sonia Gandhi addresses a huge election rally at Buxar in Bihar. She took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not fulfilling the promises made. She also listed the achievement of the Congress governments in the past 60 years at the Centre.

Bihar polls: Sonia Gandhi at Wazirganj, Gaya; Attacks BJP, PM Modi

While addressing a public meeting at the Wazirganj railway ground near Gaya, as part of the ongoing election campaign in Bihar, Congress President Sonia Gandhi assailed Modi for lowering the dignity of his office by criticising his political opponents on foreign soil. “No other prime minister has ever criticised and sullied the image of his political rivals on foreign soil. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done so, showing his narrow-mindedness and low-level politics. When he does not bother about the dignity of Bihar or the nation, will he be concerned about your dignity?” she said.

Bihar: Sonia Gandhi addresses Congress poll rally at Bhagalpur, takes on Modi govt

Congress president Sonia Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of reneging on his poll promises and described his special package for Bihar as a “political bluff”, saying the PM had little time for people’s problems as he was mostly busy with foreign trips. “The Congress is fully committed to continuing the facility of reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs as per constitutional provisions,” she said at a well-attended election rally in Kahalgaon, 37 km east of Bhagalpur. Sonia Gandhi alleged the BJP-led government at the Centre and (the RSS mandarins at) Nagpur were playing a “fixed match” over job reservation for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.

Rahul Gandhi kick-starts Congress campaign for Bihar polls from Champaran

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi kick-started his party's poll campaign in Bihar with a mega rally in West Champaran. “If you look around you won’t find anyone wearing a suit or boot. People here are wearing torn clothes or Kurtas” he repeated his suit-boot jibe. “Maine kuch din pehle kaha, Ye jo aapki sarkaar hai, ye gareebo ki sarkaar nahi hai, ye suit boot ki sarkaar hai: said Rahul Gandhi in a sharp attack to Modi government at the Centre.

Sonia Gandhi slams Modi govt at Swabhiman rally in Patna

Congress President Sonia Gandhi attacked Modi govt and the BJP while addressing the Swabhiman rally in Patna. Congress has aligned with JDU and RJD for Bihar assembly polls. She also took a dig at PM Modi's recent DNA remark.

Sonia Gandhi at Valmiki Nagar in Bihar attacks BJP's divisive politics

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi took on BJP for its divisive politics and double-speak on corruption while addressing a huge election rally at Bihar's Valmiki Nagar on Friday. "Nowadays, the BJP and its leaders urge people to remove Congress from the country. Why do they want it? They want to do it as they are well aware that if Congress is here, they can never make people fight each other. How can indulge in politics of hatred if Congress is active? BJP and RSS know very well that the strength of Congress is its ideology based on India's ethos and culture which is the soul of our nation" said the Congress leader.

Rahul Gandhi at Gopalganj, Bihar: Under Modi model, Adani is prospering, people are suffering

Gopalganj (Bihar): Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi while addressing a big election rally at Gopalganj in Bihar on Thursday said, "Under the much hyped Gujarat Model of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, only one business man Adani is prospering and the poor people in Gujarat are suffering".

Rahul Gandhi at kishanganj in Bihar asks Modi not make people fools

Kishanganj: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi continues his blistering attack on BJP and Modi's 'Gujarat model' and hoped that the people have effective radars to find out the truth behind the 'toffee model'. "You must have heard about radars which are mainly used to track aeroplanes. Similarly the people, especially from Bihar, also possess fine tuned radars. It is highly technically effective so that truth can be easily found out" said Rahul Gandhi while addressing a huge Congress rally at Bihar's Kishanganj as part of his ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

Rahul Gandhi at Kishanganj Bihar

Rahul Gandhi in Bihar: People have fine tuned radars to find out truths about claims of Modi

Kishanganj: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi continues his blistering attack on BJP and Modi’s ‘Gujarat model’ and hoped that the people have effective radars to find out the truth behind the ‘toffee model’.
“You must have heard about radars which are mainly used to track aeroplanes. Similarly the people, especially from Bihar, also possess fine tuned radars. It is highly technically effective so that truth can be easily found out” said Rahul Gandhi while addressing a huge Congress rally at Bihar’s Kishanganj as part of his ongoing Lok Sabha polls.
He once again slammed the much hyped ‘Gujarat model’ and said, “About 45000 acres of land, almost the size of Purnia, has been given for a mere Rs 300 crore to a single industrialist – Adani- by Modi govt. Today, a toffee costs Rs. 1 but Modi government gave lands at Rs. 1. This is the ‘toffee model’. Same is the case with the major coastal line in Gujarat. A loan of Rs 10,000 crore was given to Tata at 0.1% interest rate for the Nano project. But a poor farmer can get loan only at an interest rate of 12%, but Tata gets loan at 0.1% interest rate for 25 years!”
“Let us examine some more facts of this ‘toffee model’ of BJP and Modi. About 40 lakh people in Gujarat are under BPL. 40% of the people are not getting adequate drinking water facilities in Gujarat; one out of two kids starves” he added.
“This election is a battle of two ideologies; between love and hatred. Congress talks with love, encourages brotherhood. But on the other side BJP spreads hatred and promotes anger. It makes people fight each other. BJP’s friend Shiv Sena, beat up your people in Maharashtra. Just listen to BJP leaders’ speeches. You will hear not a single speech which doesn’t have anger. They never acknowledge the good works of others. BJP thinks that only one man in has the entire knowledge and rest knows nothing” explained Rahul Gandhi and continued, “For BJP, this coming election is not for India or its people. They are not bothered about the poor, farmers or women in our country. For them, this election is for just Modi. They are not bothered the people. They forgot the glorious contributions of the people of Gujarat for developing that state. Modi now claims that he is the only man behind the entire progress of Gujarat”.
“Congress wants welfare of entire people, especially the poor and downtrodden. We therefore initiated a right-based paradigm. But what ideology does BJP follow? Under its model, only one man has authority for entire decisions. He urges people to make him the chowkeedar of the country. BJP wants to make him a chowkeedar (watchman) to solve all the issues in our country; But Congress wants to make every citizen a chowkeedar of our nation” said the Congress Vice President.
“So, please open your radars to find out the truth. Vote for Congress and elect our candidates” concluded Rahul Gandhi.
Full text of the speech by Congress President Rahul Gandhi' in Lahra Chowk, Kishanganj, Bihar

Sonia Gandhi addresses Congress election rally in Sasaram (Bihar), slam JD-U, BJP

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched her campaign for upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Bihar by addressing a massive election rally at Sasaram. "We also must be cautious about those, who frequently change their colours. There are parties who were with BJP till yesterday, but became secular, all of a sudden. These people level baseless allegations against us just to cover up their faults" said Sonia Gandhi in an indirect at DIG at JD-U and also said that BJP is indulging in spreading hatred and enemity among people.

Rahul Gandhi takes on BJP while addressing Congress rally at Aurangabad in Bihar

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed a mega party rally in Bihar's Aurangabad as part of his campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "Congress believes in a politics of love. We never make people fight against another. Shiv Sena is a ally of BJP and is in NDA. Who threatens the people from Bihar in Maharashtra? It is Shiv Sena, the BJP ally. But BJP and NDA come here and make huge promises of Bihar's development but never talk about the assaults on Bihari people in Maharashtra" said the Congress leader striking a chord with the large crowd.

Rahul Gandhi in Bihar: BJP wants development for only a selected group

Rahul Gandhi in Bihar: NDA and BJP indulge in politics of hate
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed a mega party rally in Bihar’s Aurangabad as part of his campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. “Congress believes in a politics of love. We never make people fight against another. Shiv Sena is an ally of BJP and is in NDA. Who threatens the people from Bihar in Maharashtra? It is Shiv Sena, the BJP ally. But BJP and NDA come here and make huge promises of Bihar’s development but never talk about the assaults on Bihari people in Maharashtra” said the Congress leader striking a chord with the large crowd.
“Wherever BJP goes, they incite violence. They make people fight. I had interacted with some Sikh farmers working in Gujarat. They have been working there since independence but now they face threat of eviction from the Gujarat government. But the SAD which is a partner of BJP (and NDA) never uttered any word against it” said Rahul Gandhi slamming BJP and NDA.
About future plans of the Congress party, the party leader explained, “In the next ten years, we will generate 10 crore new jobs for the youth. We know that for development, our youth must get proper education and sufficient jobs. The new dedicated freight-industrial corridor project initiated by us (Delhi- Mumbai, Mumbai-Chennai and Delhi – Kolkata) will boost the industries and also will generate lakhs of job”. “We gave people right to job, right to education and right to food. Now we plan to give them right to health care so that the poor can get free medicines. We will open the doors of hospitals for them. Similarly we will also provide them with a right to shelter and we also plan pension schemes for the old aged persons” he added.
“We wanted to build a strong base under the feet of the poor. We want to instil a feeling of self reliance inside their minds. We want to empower the poor. We want their children also get quality education and proper jobs. BJP wants development for only a selected group. The issues of poor and downtrodden are not at all important for BJP” asserted the Congress Vice President.
“We talk less but act. We never give hollow promises. BJP and NDA are good at marketing and they spend huge amounts for it” he said in an indirect dig at BJP.
Rahul Gandhi then focussed on issues of women. “50% of our population is women. We always talk about super power. But India can never be a superpower if we do not empower our women. The women reservation to grant 33% reservation for women in Parliament and Assemblies are still pending. It is the BJP who opposes it as they never want women empowerment. But we will pass it like we passed the legislation to grant 50% reservation for women in Panchayats. Similarly our manifesto also offers about 2000 mahila police stations across the country. We will connect more women with the banks through Self Help Groups” he said.
“We treat everyone equally and we want to work for the welfare of all sections. But BJP talks about only one person and they think all issues will be solved if that person becomes Prime Minister. We are different from them. We believe in empowering all our citizens” underlined Rahul Gandhi and sought people’s support for Congress.
Full text of the speech of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi at Aurangabad, Bihar

Sonia Gandhi at Kishanganj (Bihar)

Sonia Gandhi at Kishanganj targets BJP: They only want the chair, the power, at any cost
Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a centre of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) at Bihar’s Kishanganj. While addressing the gathering after the function, she cautioned the people against the threat of communal forces and stressed for the need to wage a battle against them. “There are forces at present which are trying to derail Mahatma Gandhi's ideology. We must fight them and that is the greatest challenge before us” said Sonia Gandhi.
Highlighting the policies of the central government, the UPA Chairperson said, “We brought in, for the first time in our history, the Right to Information Bill and Lokpal Bill to fight corruption. We also implemented Mahatma Gandhi NREGA to guarantee jobs for the rural poor and the Food Security Act to make sure that no one in our country lives in hunger. About 80 crores of our people, both in rural and urban areas, will have the benefits of the Food Security Act by providing subsidized food grains. We also gave focus to improve the health care facilities.. Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and Right to Education ensure free education to school going children”.
“The UPA Government implemented various schemes and programmes for the minority communities and the benefits of the same are now visible. Because of our progressive measures, the enrolment of children in madrasas, especially the girls, has shown an upsurge in the recent times and I am happy for it. We accepted the recommendations of the Sachar Commission. For the development of Waqf properties for the community welfare, particularly for Muslims in India, we have established the National Waqf Development Corporation Limited, which was inaugurated yesterday in Delhi by our Prime minister” said Sonia Gandhi on central govt’s minority-welfare policies.
“When a state develops, the country also develops and we all must be happy. We are going through a critical periods and some hard questions need to be answered. So we all must be united to go forward, fight divisive forces and put in our efforts for development. It is a battle of ideologies. We always believe in Secularism and we always fought to protect its values and will continue to do so. The country will develop and people will live happily only if there is brotherhood and harmony”, said the Congress President.
In an indirect dig at BJP, the Congress leader continued, “There are some forces today, which do not have faith in our glorious culture and its secular ethos. They want to divide the nation and the people on communal lines. They indulge in spreading the poison of hatred and disharmony. They only want the chair; they want just power, at any cost. We all must be vigilant against such forces”.
“Congress has been fighting to bring in happiness and prosperity in the lives of all sections of the people – the minorities, Adivasis, minorities, downtrodden and women”, she added.
“I just want to say that your struggles are Congress party's struggles and your fight is the Congress party's fight” said Sonia Gandhi while concluding her speech.
Full text of the speech of Sonia Gandhi at Kishanganj, Bihar

Sonia Gandhi at Kishanganj, Bihar indirectly targets BJP, says it wants just the chair

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a centre of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) at Bihar's Kishanganj. While addressing the gathering, she cautioned the people against the threat of communal forces and stressed for the need to wage a battle against them. "There are forces at present which are trying to derail Mahatma Gandhi's ideology. We must fight them and that is the greatest challenge before us" said Sonia Gandhi.