Rahul Gandhi in UP: We want to empower you but BJP suppresses people’s strength

Chandauli (UP): After a spectacular road show in Varanasi, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhilaunched yet another attack on BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi while speaking at an impressive election rally at Chandauli in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday.

“We want people to have big dreams but BJP wants only Adani to dream big. We want to empower you but BJP suppresses your strength. BJP takes your money and hands it over to 2-3 industrialists” said the Congress leader.  “The most important contribution of this land is that you gave us an ideology – that of Lord Buddha. He had taught us to treat everyone equally and take all along. He had understood this ideology 3000 years back; he had travelled across India spreading the message of unity and peace. He taught us that every individual must have a space in our country. This has been the ideology of Congress too” he said further striking a chord with the huge crowd.

“Congress believes that the benefits of development must reach people. Opposition wants entire wealth must go to 2-3 industrialists” said Rahul Gandhi and clarified, “I am not saying that we must not help industrialists. We must support them. But what Congress wants to ensure that the benefits of development also reach common people and so we need to build a partnership between the poor and the business class. We do not want that people work hard and bring in development, and the entire wealth generated go to the pockets of a selected group”.

In another dig at BJP, the Congress Vice President added, “We want to build a strong foundation based on rights under the feet of every poor.  We want them too to have big dreams. We want to reform their lives.. The opposition parties do not such a vision. They want farmers to remain as farmers, workers to remain as workers. But Congress wants to bring in reforms in their lives. We want them to dream big and achieve big”.

The young Congress leader once again slammed Gujarat Model and said, “There are big talks about Modi’s Gujarat development. But let us just examine some of the facts of this much-hyped model. About 45000 acres of land in Gujarat were given to one businessman at Rs. 1 per mtr. These lands were belonging to poor farmers and they are now forced to work under MNREGA. They get food under Centre’s food security scheme. The entire budget for education and health of the Gujarat govt is just a mere Rs. 8000 cr but it gave Rs. 40000 cr to just one industrialist Adani. This is the ‘Gujarat model’ of BJP”.

“Indian Air Force had asked for lands in Gujarat from the Modi government but we had to wage a long battle for 7 years to get the approval from state government. Finally, it agreed to give land but at higher cost. But Modi government was ready give away land to Adani at Rs 1 per mtr! Adani did not anything in the land to help the poor. He, within a short span of time, sold those lands at Rs 8000 per mtr and earned huge profit” he said further.

“We talk about love and brotherhood. Just listen to the speeches of Congress leaders. We never abuse anyone. But just listen to the speeches BJP leaders. It is full of hatred and anger. They spread rumours and level baseless allegations. They shower abuses on others.  India can develop only if we work with love. India belongs to all Indians and it will ever remain so. That is what Lord Buddha taught us” said Rahul Gandhi while concluding his aggressive speech.

Textof speech by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi at a public rally atChandauli , Uttar Pradesh

Rahul Gandhi at Allahabad (UP): BJP is filled with anger; its leaders abuse others

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed a huge election rally at Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh on Monday. "You have been listening to Congress leaders' speeches. We never abuse any one; never use wrong words; don't show anger. But just hear out our opposition leaders. Their hearts are filled with anger. They abuse, spread wrong facts, level baseless allegations. Development will be possible only if we work with love. We work for unity and brotherhood. That is what Gandhi Ji, Nehru Ji and Patel Ji had taught us. We treat everyone equally; respect all religions without any discrimination" said the Congress leader.

Rahul Gandhi in Amethi: Our rivals will vanish after the polls, but I am here always with you

Rahul Gandhi in Amethi takes on Modi attacks Gujarat model
 “Criticism is very easy. Leaders come and make long speeches attacking us and vanish. But delivering on promises and work for development is a different act altogether. It is not easy to connect 12 lakh women with SHG. Lots of efforts are required to accomplish it” said Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi while addressing an election rally in his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi.
“Many leaders come to you and give away lectures. Their minds are filled with anger. I can tell you why. They are well aware that my relation with Amethi is not political, but it is a family relationship. India Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi also have the same affectionate relationship with you and our rivals do not like this and they try to break it. That is why they behave angrily. Let them do whatever they want to do. My bond with people of Amethi is deep rooted and no one can ever break it” said the Amethi MP striking an emotional chord with the people.
“This election is a battle between two ideologies. One is that of Congress, which believes in unity and to work in harmony talking all communities together.. On the other side we have a politics based on anger. You have been listening to me; did you see me abusing anyone? Did I show any anger? Did I level any false allegation against anybody? No; but what about our rivals? Their hearts are filled with anger. They abuse, spread wrong facts, level baseless allegations. But I am never angry as I believe that only love can take us forward. Development will be possible only if we work with love” explained Rahul Gandhi.
“Our ideology is that ensuring welfare of the poor is mandatory for development. They need support and assistance from the government. The rich people are capable enough to look after themselves. They have huge bank accounts and ATM card. We want to give ATM cards to every poor” he added.
In a fresh attack on BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, the Congress leader lamented, “BJP and Modi do politics for just 2-3 industrialists. Modi government favoured them and now those businessmen fund for entire election campaigning of BJP and Modi. They spend a lot for marketing BJP. One must ask BJP leaders from where they get this huge fund for electioneering. This money is not of Modi but of those industrialists to which he handed over huge lands and contracts”.
We do not want such a politics... We are not against helping and supporting business class.. We value their contributions. We need to build partnership between industries and the poor. Together, we must work for taking our country forward” he asserted. “But BJP thinks just opposite. They never bother about welfare or upliftment of the weaker sections. They want development just for people like Adani” further said the Congress Vice President.
“These people (BJP) do not want to see your welfare. They just come here during elections, talk big and disappear. You will not see them after a day of the polls. But you will always see me, Priyanka Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, here. We will keep coming to you and will fight for you. Your fight is mine too” said Rahul Gandhi while ending his speech.
Text of the speech by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Amethi

Sonia Gandhi at Khariar, Odisha: BJP hungry for only chair and power

Congress president and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday launched a blistering attack on both BJP and the BJD while addressing a election rally at Khariar in Odisha as part of her campaign for upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Taking on the BJP, Sonia Gandhi said while the Congress was committed to work for the poor and common people, the opposition party was hankering after chair and power. The Congress President said the country was passing through a testing time and people should discern between the genuine ones and those with masks.

Rahul Gandhi strikes chord with at Bellary in Karnataka; slams BJP

Rahul Gandhi in Karnataka blasts the double speak of BJP on corruption
Bellary: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a mammoth election rally at Bellary in Karnataka as part of his ongoing Lok Sabha polls campaign, launched a scathing attack on the BJP for its double stance on corruption.
Striking a chord with the massive crowd, Rahul Gandhi said, “Congress has a long relationship with Bellary. Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi had fought election from here. You always have supported us and I am confident about your support in future too”.
In a strong attack on BJP, the Congress leader lamented, “We have development plans for Bellary. The conditions of schools, colleges, electricity and water will be improved. However, we will ensure that corruption, which was rampant during BJP regime, is not back here again. We will take strong actions against corrupt BJP politicians in Bellary”.
“We have created Hubli-Hospet Section of NH-63, a Rs. 1400 crore project. UPA Govt. has started the work on Bellary-Siruguppa-Lingasugur rail line... We have set up Central University in Gulbarga. UPA Govt is also setting up a Rural Development and Panchayati Raj University in Karnataka and IIIT in Dharwad” informed Rahul Gandhi.
“Congress works for the poor and the weak. Our efforts are to transform the lives of all sections of the society – the Dalits, tribals and minorities. That is why we used the word 'Adhikar' for the first time and we gave you RTI, NREGA and Right to Food in 2004, at the Centre. Our vision is development by granting people their legitimate rights” said the Congress Vice President and said further, “Our Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme ensures right to job and by which lakhs of rural poor benefitted. The Food Security law ensures food at subsidized rates to crores of poor in our country. Similarly we also implemented revolutionary policies of Right to Education and Right to Information. The decisions and information which were behind closed doors earlier, are now in public domain, after the enactment of RTI”.
“In future also, we will continue to serve the poor and will ensure their welfare, along with development. In our 2014 election manifesto we have promised right to healthcare, a scheme to provide free medicines and treatments for the poor. Apart from this we also promise pension schemes and right to shelter in it” said Rahul Gandhi referring to some of the promises made in the Congress manifesto for the 2014 general election.
“We will again form a pro-poor Congress government at the Centre which works for social justice and empowerment of the people. Support Congress and elect our candidates in the coming Lok Sabha polls” said the confident Congress leader while concluding his address.

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

Rahul Gandhi in Odisha takes on BJP, says Congress treats everyone equally

Rahul Gandhi at Congress rally in Odisha: BJP does not see the problems of the poor
Nabarangpur: “The NDA leaders talk a lot but do nothing for the people. The pain and problems of the people are not visible for them” said Rahul Gandhi, the Congress Vice President, while addressing a huge Congress rally at Nabarangpur in Odisha.
“Odisha is a rich state; it has huge wealth, natural resources and forests. But though the state is rich, the people are poor here. There is no shortage of anything here. But your government take away your natural resources and sell it to big industrialists and only a handful people, not the people, avail benefits” said Rahul Gandhi taking on the BJD government in the state and continued, “The water for irrigation in Odisha is not reaching the people as it is being diverted to rich industrialists. I am not saying that industrialists should not get water and electricity. But what Congress believes is the poor also must get benefits alongwith the business people. There should be a balanced approach for development”.
Referring to UPA policies, the Congress leader commented, “In 2004, the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre waived off debts of poor farmers, worth Rs. 70000 cr. When we were initiating that the opposition tried to block it by asking from where we will have funds for it. But we were determined and told them that farmers are the pillars of our nation and we will arrange money for their welfare. We showed them how to make funds for it. Then the opposition said loan-waiving was wastage of money. We replied that helping farmers is never wastage of funds for Congress. By helping farmers, we are actually helping our nation”.
He went on further striking a chord with the farmers there and said, “We then had fought for the farmers’ rights in their lands at Niyamgiri. The farmers had just asked one thing, if rich people can get adequate market prices for their lands, then why can’t the farmers? Congress felt that their demands were right. We took up their matter and fought for their rights. The Land Acquisition Law enacted by the UPA Government is its outcome. Now no one can grab any farmer’s land forcibly. Further, this new revised bill ensures four-times more market prices for the land acquired. I am also happy to convey that the farmers get 3 times more price for their crops than the NDA period”.
Rahul Gandhi then focussed on welfare of women and commented, “It is the women who run our country and development is not possible without them. We gave you 50% reservation for women in Panchayats and now we want to grant reservation for you in Parliament and assemblies. The bill for the same is still pending as the opposition has been blocking it. But I assure you that the Congress party will ensure its passage. We are also happy to connect lakhs of women with banks through Self Help Groups (SHG).Our manifesto for 2014 elections promises all-women-run police stations across the country”.
“Congress treats every citizen equally. For us all are equal - Hindu, Muslim, Christian. We work for the poor, Dalits, Adivasis, women and the youth and we fight to protect their rights.. Support Congress and elect our candidates” said the Congress Vice President while concluding his address.

Full text of the speech by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi at Nabarangpur, Odisha

 

Rahul Gandhi in Assam, interacts with Tribal groups in Guwahati

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, on the first day of his Assam visit, interacted with tribal leaders at Guwahati on Tuesday. The Congress leader further told tribal leaders that he wants to "include you all in our choice for candidates" for the Lok Sabha polls. "Not only your MLA but you can also choose you candidate for Lok Sabha polls," Rahul Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi in Rajasthan: Only Congress works for the poor; slams opposition

Congress vice-resident Rahul Gandhi , second time in the gap of just one week, addressed yet another massive Congress rally in poll bound Rajasthan on Tuesday. Speaking at Krishi Upaj Mandi ground in Baran Rahul Gandhi slammed opposition for blocking several pro-poor initiatives of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre.

Congress vice-resident Rahul Gandhi speaks at a massive rally in Baran, Rajasthan

Second time in the gap of just one week, Congress vice-resident Rahul Gandhi addressed yet another massive Congress rally in poll bound Rajasthan on Tuesday. Speaking at Krishi Upaj Mandi ground in Baran Rahul Gandhi took the opposition for blocking the pro-poor measures taken by the Congress government.

Rahul Gandhi reaches Baran (Rajasthan) to address Congress rally

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi reaches Baran (Rajasthan) to address a Congress rally in the region. There is a huge sea of people to greet the young Congress leader.

Rahul Gandhi kicks-off Congress campaign in Rajasthan from Udaipur; attacks opposition -- Part 02

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi kicked off the election campaign of Congress in party in Rajasthan by addressing a mammoth adivasi-kisan rally, in tribal-dominated Salumbar assembly constituency of Udaipur division on Wednesday. Striking an emotional chord with the huge gathering at the rally, Rahul Gandhi said "We believe that the country's progress is possible only if we ensure the welfare and upliftment of the poor, the dalits; only if the people who build these bridges and roads, are empowered. What we believe is that country cannot develop just by building roads, railway lines, airports and other things. Country will not move forward until the people who put in their hard work for building this infrastructure get sufficient food and adequate medical facilities. This is the difference between the Congress and other opposition parties" and the crowd acknowledged it with huge cheers.

Rahul Gandhi kicks-off Congress campaign in Rajasthan from Udaipur; attacks opposition -- Part 01

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi kicked off the election campaign of Congress in party in Rajasthan by addressing a mammoth adivasi-kisan rally, in tribal-dominated Salumbar assembly constituency of Udaipur division on Wednesday. Striking an emotional chord with the huge gathering at the rally, Rahul Gandhi said “We believe that the country’s progress is possible only if we ensure the welfare and upliftment of the poor, the dalits; only if the people who build these bridges and roads, are empowered. What we believe is that country cannot develop just by building roads, railway lines, airports and other things. Country will not move forward until the people who put in their hard work for building this infrastructure get sufficient food and adequate medical facilities. This is the difference between the Congress and other opposition parties” and the crowd acknowledged it with huge cheers.

Rahul Gandhi addresses Congress rally in Udaipur (Rajasthan) on 11th Sept, 2013

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi launched the party's campaign with a massive rally in Rajasthan's Udaipur District. He slammed the opposition for blocking the pro-poor initiatives of the Congress-led UPA Government at the centre.