Rahul Gandhi: BJP must realize that Congress is the only party that has kept India united

Rahul Gandhi: The nation can't run on the whims and fancies of a particular person
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi stated that he is ready to take any responsibility, if given, and will do whatever the party wants him to do. “Congress should come to power in the interest of the country. I will take up whatever responsibility is given to me by my party in the future and do it diligently to the best of my abilities,” said Rahul Gandhi in an interview to Dainik Bhaskar, Hindi news daily.
The Congress vice-president also expressed hope that Congress party will do well in the next General Elections and his party's return to power will hold good for the nation. “People, sometimes, underestimate Congress. That had happened in 2004 and 2009, but we came out victorious. Coming general elections will be very exciting and I am confident that we will perform well in the polls”, said Rahul Gandhi and stated further, “We have done tremendous works in the last ten years. We changed the development paradigm of our country. We brought in land mark policies like the NREGA, Right to Education and land acquisition bills. Congress has been granting rights to the people. We gave right to information and right to forests. We granted rights to identity through Aadhar. We also provided the people with right to food. We have created history by ensuring rights to the people”.
When asked about BJP’s Congress-free India campaign and Narendra Modi’s popularity, the young Congress leader quipped, “BJP now wants personality oriented leadership which isn't in the favour of the nation. The nation can't run on the whims and fancies of a particular person. The future of the 120 million people will be secured only if we take all the citizens along. Congress is in the DNA of this country. BJP needs to realise that Congress is the only party that has kept the people of India united”.
Rahul Gandhi denied reports that Congress is fast losing its allies. “It is untrue that my party is losing its allies, we have alliances in Maharashtra and J&K. Further discussions are in progress,” he said.
About speculations regarding a bigger responsibility for Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi said “Priyanka is my sister and my friend. She is also an active Congress soldier. Her ideas strengthen me as well as my party. I do not think that she will have any election-based role”.
Rahul Gandhi also took a jibe at the Aam Aadmi Party and, “I do not agree with them on many matters. Our decisions must be with a long term vision aimed at safety and security of the people, and must not be short-termed”.
“My focus is on a long term vision for the future of our country, where all Indians have equal freedom, dignity and opportunity. My vision is for an India where girls are not discriminated against. We need to transform the civil service and legal system. Government must be honest and should be zero tolerant on corruption” he said in the interview.
(Courtesy – Dainik Bhaskar)


English version of the excerpts of the interview with Rahul Gandhi published in Dainik Bhaskar on 14 Jan, 2014

Rahul Gandhi in Kerala wants more women and youngsters to join Congress

Rahul Gandhi in Kerala urges women and youngsters to join Congress
Kochi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who was on a day-long visit to Kerala to take part in the youth Congress yatra, invited the young and women to join the party.
Rahul Gandhi, who was returning after participating in Youth Congress’ 'Yuva Kerala Yatra' at Noornad in Alapuzha district, was talking to media persons at Kochi International Airport in Nedumbassery "I invite all women and youngsters to work in the Congress," said the Congress leader and stressed the need to encourage entrepreneurship in the state, which would help create more jobs. “I think it is also very important in a state like Kerala and the rest of the country, that women come into politics, and they play a big role in the political system. I would like to invite all the youngsters and women in Kerala to come forward, work with the Congress party, and to change the way politics works,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi added that he wanted the state government and the Congress party to look into the issue of job creation in Kerala. "Already they have done quite a lot," he said. “There is a need to develop and encourage as many young entrepreneurs as possible in the state.. Kerala has great potential.”We will push it as hard as we can," said the Congress leader.
“We are trying to promote youngsters into politics as possible, and it was an excellent padh yatra. One of the things I have asked (state Home Minister) Ramesh Chennithala to look into and the government to look into is the issue of jobs, and to try and develop as many young entrepreneurs as possible,” said Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi arrived at Kochi airport in the afternoon on Monday and went to Alappuzha to join the Yatra. The Congress Vice-President also dropped in at a Primary health the centre located between Kochi and Alappuzha and spent about half-an-hour there. At the Community health Centre in Thuravoor, Rahul Gandhi mingled with the locals and officials. When he reached there, polio distribution was in progress and he immediately joined the campaign by administering polio drops to a baby. The Congress leader also had discussions with the ASHA volunteers there. Rahul Gandhi also praised the ‘world class’ health care system in the Kerala and also lauded the services of the nurses from the state who have been working across the world.
The Yatra campaign was led by State Youth Congress President Dean Kuriakose, highlighting the themes of secularism and non-violent society.

Rahul Gandhi hold meeting with young achievers in Bangalore on Congress manifesto

Bangalore: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi met the youngsters in Bangalore to seek their suggestions on party manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The congress leader commented that though the Congress has been trying their best to serve the people, but is not good at marketing, unlike opposition parties.

"Our opposition markets better, works less. We work more but aren't good at marketing," said Rahul Gandhi during a interactive session at the National Congress' Consultation for the National Youth and Students' Manifesto. “Congress was the only party that could take every Indian together - rich, poor, Hindu or Muslim”, said the Congress vice-president addressing session which was attended by young Indians from varied backgrounds, including students, professionals, innovators, activists, researchers, artists and panchayat representatives.

Rahul Gandhi added that the fundamental reason for inadequate space for the youth in politics was the process of selecting candidates. "The fundamental reason why there is inadequate space for the youth in politics is that the process of entry and promotion are not transparent. The real problem is the process of selecting candidates," he said.  "Does any party ask the people who the candidate from their area should be?" asked the congress Member of Parliament from Amethi.

Rahul Gandhi stressed that bringing about a change involved creating institutions and processes that empower people. "Building systems takes time, it is not easy as it looks," he said. The Congress leader further said that the true empowerment needs to be sustainable and long-term. "Short term empowerment is in fact disempowerment," he said. Rahul Gandhi said the country needs to open up higher education system and link it to the industrial system, NGO system and various other systems.

Responding to a comment of a a participant from West Bengal on the atrocities against women, Rahul Gandhi said one of the biggest problems in the country is the lack of power women have and the way they are treated. "If I want to bring about one change, it would be the empowerment of women," he quipped. Rahul Gandhi also commented that  true governance is that which provides dignity and respect to people and ensures their voices are heard.
This was the third consultation held by Congress to secure suggestions for its manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Rahul Gandhi at Bangalore for Congress manifesto meeting

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was in Bangalore to interact with various section of the society to get their view on the Congress manifesto. Congress has been found such exercise across the country to incorporate people's view in the party manifesto, ahead off the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Rahul Gandhi talks to media after Congress core group meeting

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said that screening process of candidates for the coming Lok Sabha polls have been started. "A new type of screening to pick the candidates have been screening to pick the Candidates have been initiated. It is a new process how the voices of the people can be brought to the system", said Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi: Selection of Congress candidates for the Lok Sabha polls will reflect people’s voice

Rahul Gandhi: Selection of candidates will be based on voice of people
New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi informed that the selection of party candidates will be through a new process which will take into account the voice of the people and will be completed before the deadline.
During a brief interaction with the media persons, Rahul Gandhi said, "For the first time, we are working on a deadline, getting voices of people into the party systematically". "The ticket distribution will be done by a new process. Discussions have been taking place within our party for a long time. We are doing this with a formal structure," he added.
To finalise the Congress candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Congress has constituted screening committees for all states and Union Territories. In the first meeting of the Chairmen of these screening committees, Rahul Gandhi underlined the importance of giving prominence to common people in decision making in political processes including deciding candidates. The Congress vice-president is impressed upon the broad parameters of candidate selection like no criminal record against them and an experience of right kind of politics along with winnability.
The meetings of the screening committees to select candidates will begin soon after the January 17 AICC meeting in Delhi. With Rahul Gandhi keen on early declaration of candidates for Lok Sabha polls, the party is understood to have decided to come out with a list of 150 to 200 nominees by the end of this month.
Lok Sabha elections are likely to be held in April-May and the decision will give at least three months time to the candidates to prepare for the elections.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attends top level Congress meeting

New Delhi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and sister of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, attended a Congress strategy meeting on Tuesday with senior party leaders. The Congress is preparing itself for a a major organizational revamp. Apart from Priyanka Gandhi, senior leaders like Ahmed Patel and Jairam Ramesh, along with half a dozen other general secretaries were also present in the meeting. The Congress party however, said that the meeting discussed the campaign and tour programme of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi ahead of the Lok Sabha polls due by May. The status of implementation of the welfare schemes of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre in Amethi and Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh - the parliament constituencies of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi respectively - was also discussed in the meeting. "Priyanka Gandhi is a member of an important political family. Even though she does not take active part in politics, she is an active member and looks after election work at Raebareli and Amethi. She has political views, she meets workers and if she meets party leaders, what's new?" said Janardan Dwivedi, who was present at the meeting. Priyanka Gandhi, who has so far confined herself to managing the constituencies of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi will continue campaigning but so far there is no indication that she would be the Lok Sabha election. Priyanka has been an effective campaigner for the Congress, especially in Amethi and Raebareli, where she had a special connect with the common people. Recently, Priyanka Gandhi had visited Amethi and Raebareli and had interacted with Congress leaders and supporters at the grass root level and also had taken some innovative measures to strengthen the party. Her efforts have received huge appreciation from all ranks of the people in the party and they believe that with Priyanka Gandhi’s effective intervention and strategy, party can be strengthened further and will boost its electoral chances.