National Herald Case at Patiala House Court

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not achieve his dream of a ‘Congress Mukt Bharat’ and Congress won’t bend at any cost. He was speaking after his mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and himself were granted bail within minutes of the hearing of the National Herald case in a Patiala House court. Bail was granted on Rs.50,000 personal bond and one surety each. Rahul also claimed that the Prime Minister and his government were repeatedly making false accusations against the opposition. Addressing the media, Sonia Gandhi said that the government won’t be able to destroy the Congress and added that the latter will try their best to bring the truth out. She also said that the BJP is targeting them intentionally and won’t achieve success.

Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary: Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi distribute motor-vehicles to disabled

New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra handed over the keys of especially designed motorised vehicles to 52 physically challenged people on Saturday under the 'Access to Opportunities' programme of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

This programme is conducted every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka, who are the Trustee and Executive Trustee of the foundation interacted with the awardees while handing over the vehicle keys. The participants clicked pictures with Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. The Congress vice president also advised the awardees to "drive slow".

Some awardees also brought souvenirs from their native places which was warmly received by the trustees. This year the Foundation will be distributing 150 vehicles across different parts of the country. For the Delhi distribution ceremony, 52 selected recipients from Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal were given the vehicles at Jawahar Bhawan here.

"Through a rigorous selection process, the focus was to identify those individuals whose physical disability was limiting their access to opportunities and hampering the realisation of their potential. "Education being the main focus of the Foundation, preferences were given to student applicants to help them access more opportunities in education and livelihood," said a release issued by the Foundation. The program began with an inspirational song sung by children from 'Wonderoom', one of the initiatives of the Foundation.

Later, two of the youth awardees from the previous year, shared their experiences of how they benefited by the vehicle specially designed for them. They also highlighted the idea of self dependence and freedom in mobility. After the award ceremony, the awardees were provided training by professionals on the usage of the vehicle, safety rules and regulations.

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul, Priyanka pay homage to Rajiv Gandhi on his 70th birth anniversary

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was today remembered on his 70th birth anniversary with several leaders paying homage at his memorial in New Delhi. President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the late leader's wife and Congress President Sonia Gandhi offered flowers at his memorial 'Vir Bhumi'. Sonia Gandhi was accompanied by son and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, daughter Priyanka Gandhi and son-in-law Robert Vadra, who arrived together to pay homage. Rajiv Gandhi, who was the sixth and youngest PM of India, was assassinated on May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu during a poll campaign.

Priyanka Gandhi writes to SPG urges to withdraw airport privileges

NEW DELHI: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of congress President Sonia Gandhi and sister of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, has urged the central government to withdraw her family's security exemptions at airports, a day after reports that the government may take her husband Robert Vadra off the no-frisk protocol that he enjoys as part of the Gandhi family.

In a letter to the chief of Special Protection Group, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Since the government is now reportedly considering the removal of his (Vadra) name, I would like to inform you that I do not feel it will be correct for my children and me to avail of the facility of exemption of these checks while entering or exiting the airport when we are all travelling together."

The issue pertains to Vadra being exempt from frisking because of his association with the Gandhi family which is a SPG protectee. However, the privilege is only when he is travelling with the family and has to undergo normal checks when he travels alone. PriyankaGandhi's letter suggests that she has sought withdrawal of exemption when the family is travelling together. "It is only right for us to go through the normal channel at the airport and be frisked etc... as you will appreciate that it makes no sense for a family travelling together to fall under different categories of exemption," she said. In a bid to underline that the exemption to her husband was not part of any privilege the family had sought but imposed on them on security grounds, Priyanka Gandhi said, "His inclusion on that list came about at the instance of your predecessors in the SPG/Delhi Police and not upon any request by either of us who were informed after the fact. It was done ostensibly to facilitate the coordination of the two separate agencies at the airport when we travelled together."

The stress appears designed to quell the BJP's campaign to make an example of the Gandhi family's son-in-law as a privileged individual under the Congress government. Vadra has been a key part of BJP's attack on Congress, with Narendra Modi raking up the alleged irregular land allotments by Congress-ruled states to him as a sign of corruption in the first family. While stressing that the privilege to Vadra was imposed by police, Priyanka said it had become a source of constant embarrassment for her husband who had repeatedly asked her to get it withdrawn. "I had verbally conveyed this to the previous director and the AIG, SPG in charge of my security detail on a number of occasions but no action was ever taken on it," she said.

She also requested the SPG chief that her security detail at airports be discreet and unobtrusive. "Request you to ensure that when we are entering or exiting boarding gates, there is no disturbance to passengers... Request security detail to behave in a manner that is discreet and strictly unobtrusive," the letter said.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi visit fire-hit Jamo area in Amethi

Congresss Vice President Rahul Gandhi accompanied with sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited Barolia village in Jamo area of Amethi, where fire incident had taken place 65 houses were gutted on May 19 and met victims and assured them of all help. They were in Amethi after the results of the Lok Sabha polls to thank voters for supporting Rahul Gandhi for the third consecutive terms. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asked the district officials to get houses allotted to the villagers under the Indira Awas Yojana. "We will apply on their behalf for allotment of houses under the Indira Awas Yojana," she said. Both the leaders handed over a bag of relief material to the affected people.

Rahul Gandhi along with Priyanka Gandhi visit Amethi after LS polls

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visits Amethi after the result of Lok Sabha polls to thank the voters. Rahul Gandhi had won the Amethi seat with good margin.

Priyanka Gandhi in Amethi (UP) takes indirect dig at Smriti Irani

Amethi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress President Sonia Gandhi while speaking at an election meeting at Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, the Lok Sabha constituency of her brother and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi took on BJP. Priyanka then took an indirect dig at Smriti Irani, the BJP candidate in Amethi and said, "Criticising others is easy. I want to ask the candidate who contested from Chandni Chowk (Lok Sabha constituency in Delhi), whether she went there again after the polls. All those contesting against Rahul are here just to contest against Rahul Gandhi. They do not have any concern for the people here. But our hearts are always here. I and my family are here because of our concern for you".

Priyanka Gandhi in Amethi (UP) slams Modi for his Shehzada jibe on Rahul Gandhi

Amethi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, took yet another dig at BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi over his 'shehzada' remark about Rahul Gandhi. Priyanka is campaigning in Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency of her brother and Congress Vice Presidnet Rahul Gandhi. "When Rajiv Gandhi had initiated landmark programmes like computer revolution, he had to face a lot of criticism from the very same people who are now lampooning Rahul Gandhi. Top leaders of a party (BJP) make fun of Rahul (Gandhi). At times they call him specimen, at times they compare him to a comedian, at times they call him shehzada...you dream of becoming the PM, then why behave childishly" said the Congress campaigner.

Priyanka Gandhi at Raebareli: BJP's leaders are running away like scared rats

"They are running away scared rats. Let them do whatever they want to. I'm not scared of them. ," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said in Raebareli where she is campaigning for her mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. She further said, "I know that opposition will come out with baseless allegations before elections, but I will continue to fight against their destructive and shameless politics."

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visits Raebareli slams Narendra Modi for his 56 inch chest remark

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra daughter of Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and sister of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited Raebareli her mother Lok Sabha constituency to address a public rally. While addressing to masses she slammed BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi by saying we don't need a 56 inch chest to run the country but we need a kind heart. The daughter of UPA chairperson also said that Raebareli has developed massively in last ten years. The conditions of roads and electricity polls are good. Solar water pump and solar lights have planted in many villages. Congress has always made it's our policies with a vision and foresight.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Raebareli: We need to save this country from communal powers

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra daughter of Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and sister of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited Raebareli her mother Lok Sabha constituency to address a public rally. While addressing to masses she slammed BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi by saying we don't need a 56 inch chest to run the country but we need a kind heart. "India doesn't need cruel politics but a moral power. It doesn't need the display your false promises of power and authority but it's a determination of welfare," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said.

Priyanka Gandhi in Raebareli: Support Congress, reject negative ideology of BJP

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, sister of Congress President Rahul Gandhi who has been campaigning for her mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi in Raebareli said on Wednesday continued her attack on divisive BJP. "This election is a battle between two ideologies. On one side we have Congress, which in the past ten years, initiated a right-based paradigm in governance. It gave you rights to food, education, information and jobs and further plans to give you rights to shelter and food. This is our ideology. Congress wants to give power and rights to the people. If anyone wants to get any information, he must get it. If anyone wants to know something on corruption, he must be legally entitled to get it. This is Congress' ideology", she said.

Priyanka Gandhi at Jagatpur, Raebareli: BJP ideology is dangerous, it divides people

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and sister of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi attacked BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. "BJP promotes an ideology that is divisive. It wants entire power is concentrated in the hands of one person. It says entire strength is centralised on a particular person and urges people to support him. One may think it is a good idea that a person knows everything, has solutions for all problems and is very strong. But in fact, one must be careful, to know the truth behind such an ideology" she said.

Priyanka Gandhi in Raebareli continues her attack on BJP, Modi

Raebareli: "If entire power is concentrated in the hands of one person, is it a good thing? Or, should people have power?" Priyanka Gandhi asked people of Raebareli during her campaign in the constituency of Congress Preside and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday. "People should have the power. Nowadays, if you watch TV, you see arrogant speeches, abuses and personal attacks. This is not the correct politics. They do such things to mislead people. There should be discussions about the matters related to people's issues. The debates must be on what are the grievances of the people and how can one tackle it" said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Priyanka Gandhi in Raebareli hits back at opposition for baseless attacks on her family

Raebareli: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and sister of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi broke her silence on the allegations levelled by BJP against her husband. "What is happening now? Whenever we switch on TV, we hear arrogant language and personal attacks. Many things are being said about my family, my husband. I feel sad the way humiliating things are being said. I keep telling my children that one day the truth will come out" said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra while speaking at Raebareli from where her mother Sonia Gandhi is seeking a fourth term in parliament.

Rahul Gandhi in Amethi takes a dig at AAP, says he won’t advertise the work done by him

Rahul Gandhi on becoming PM: If Congress comes to power the MPs elect me, I will consider it
Amethi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi who is on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Amethi, indicated on Thursday that he would accept the prime minister post if the elected members want so after a Congress win. Accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra, the Congress vice-president arrived on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency yesterday.
"In the Congress, elected MPs select the Prime Minister. If our party comes to power after the election and the MPs elect me, then I will definitely consider it," Rahul Gandhi said while responding to a specific query whether he would be willing to shoulder the Prime Minister's responsibility.
"To select a Prime Minister is the right of the MPs and it should stay with them. Selecting a nominee before polls is not a democratic culture, but part of a personality cult," Rahul Gandhi said, and cited the example of Dr Manmohan Singh's election process to buttress his argument. "He was selected by the elected representatives as, in Congress, there is no system of naming the prime ministerial candidate before polls," added the Congress leader.
Rahul Gandhi said at the same time that there were several leaders in his party's ranks who could occupy the Prime Minister's post. These include P Chidambaram, Salman Khurshid, and Digvijaya Singh, besides his mother Sonia Gandhi and him.
Earlier, the Congress MP from Amethi also took a dig at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas, comparing him with a bhopu (trumpet) who had "come to Amethi today and would go back tomorrow.'' Rahul Gandhi also made light of the AAP leader's remarks challenging him to retain his parliamentary seat, saying he had "a love affair'' with the constituency. "Mera to Amethi se prem ka rishta hai. Bahut log aate jaate rehte hain'' (many people have come and gone, but I have a love affair with Amethi,'' he said.
Rahul Gandhi said he had not been advertising the work done by him in his constituency, as he had been advised by his father not to "trumpet'' his achievements. "I am according topmost priority to the expansion of highways network to facilitate industrialization,'' the Congress leader said. He also pointed out that over 12 lakh women had been provided work under the Self-Help Group scheme.
The Congress leader also alleged that Akhilesh Yadav's government in Uttar Pradesh had been putting obstacles in his efforts. "They are now threatening our plans on power supply and road-construction in the constituency,'' said Rahul Gandhi. The Congress vice-president reiterated his party's position on naming its prime ministerial candidate.

Rahul Gandhi visits Amethi with Priyanka Gandhi, says Congress does not talk, but act

Rahul Gandhi visits Amethi with Priyanka Gandhi, says Congress does not talk, but act

Amethi (UP): Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi began his two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Amethi on Wednesday. The Congress Vice-President said the Congress does not talk but act.

Rahul Gandhi reached along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Fursatganj in the evening, walked a little distance on road and met people near the airport. He later invited an old woman to join him as he left the airport with his sister seated in the car behind. The woman, who hailed from Rampur, said Rahul Gandhi had stayed in her house to which the Congress leader, who nodded, said his relationship with her is old. "We don't believe in such things...Our habit is to deliver," said Rahul Gandhi, in a brief chat with newspersons.

"A good ambience is out here in Amethi. I have an old relationship with the people of Amethi.. Amethi is like my home and it is my family", said Rahul Gandhi. He added that the Congress party has done good work for the benefit of thousands of women and also in the development of national highways. Rahul Gandhi, however, admitted that one thing which has been lacking in Amethi is electricity and roads barring national highways. "We have faced difficulties on these issues as these fall under the jurisdiction of the state government," said Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress MP said that despite funds provided by the Centre to the Uttar Pradesh government the development of power sector in the state and in Amethi is not upto the mark. He also said some more developmental works are being executed for which he had come to inaugurate.

Rahul Gandhi announced a 200-bed hospital in Tiloi area, and said that people of the area would get medical facility in a better way after it is complete. The Congress leader said the Centre has done a lot of work in Amethi. "We worked on self-help groups of women, constructed highways. The only shortcoming was that we could not work in the field of power as it is related to the state government and Congress is not in power here," he said.

"To construct the national highways is the work of the Centre, we have constructed them... But constructing other roads is the work of the state. Funds are being sent by the Centre continuously, but it is not being utilised properly” added Rahul Gandhi. "Whether it is employment or the Petroleum Institute, lot many works have been done by the Centre," he said.

After meeting people near the airport, both, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, headed for Jais. They met people on their way. At Akelua crossing some locals met the Congress leader and complained about bad roads. Rahul Gandhi later inaugurated district Congress office at Gauriganj.

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.

Priyanka Gandhi helps road accident victim in Raebareli

Priyanka Gandhi helps road accident victim in Raebareli

Rae Bareli: Priyanka Vadra, the daughter of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who reached Raebareli, Sonia Gandhi’s Parliamentary constituency, asked her securitymen to take an injured person lying on the road to hospital.

The man had sustained injury in a road accident near Maharajganj in Raebareli, and as the vehicle of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra passed the spot, she stopped her vehicle, and directed her securitymen to transport the injured man immediately to hospital. The injured man was lying on the road for 15 minutes, unattended. "Isey lekar jao yaar, Koi isey lekar jaao...Jaldi le kar jao", shouted Priyanka Gandhi at her security guards.



The man was driving a motorbike when he was hit by a runaway Tata Magic vehicle.

Priyanka Gandhi asks Congressmen in Raebareli to spread UPA policies

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra concluded her two-day visit to Raebareli, the parliamentary constiruency of her mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. She held meetings with chairmen of gram sabhas and party workers at the Bhuemau Guest House on Tuesday. Priyanka Gandhi also took stock of party's "Congress aapke dwar" programme in the meeting and distributed a kit among workers that would help them in seeking support of the people. She told them to undertake door to door tour of the areas and encouraged them to work together. A large number of Congress workers, drawn mostly from the gram panchayats and rural areas-- attended the meeting. Earlier in the day, Priyanka Gandhi inaugurated a block development office in Salon before attending the workers meeting.