Rahul Gandhi's first Hindi interview on Aaj tak

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's first Hindi interview on Aaj Tak. He spoke on various issues concerning the congress party and the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

Rahul Gandhi seeks opinion of labour sector for Congress manifesto, Part 04

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has been holding interactive sessions across the country, an attempt to maximise participation from the people in order to strengthen the Congress's election manifesto. "We will draft the manifesto after taking everybody's suggestion into consideration," he said. On Thursday, he spoke to the members of the labour union representatives of unorganised and organised sectors and said that the main problem was that there was no way that people's power was prevalent in the Parliament. "Our selection of candidate will be completely transparent so that your voice will be heard in the parliament," he said.

Rahul Gandhi seeks opinion of labour sector for Congress manifesto, Part 03

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has been holding interactive sessions across the country, an attempt to maximise participation from the people in order to strengthen the Congress's election manifesto. "We will draft the manifesto after taking everybody's suggestion into consideration," he said. On Thursday, he spoke to the members of the labour union representatives of unorganised and organised sectors and said that the main problem was that there was no way that people's power was prevalent in the Parliament. "Our selection of candidate will be completely transparent so that your voice will be heard in the parliament," he said.

Rahul Gandhi makes it clear in his first interview: I am not scared of any one, we are battle ready

Rahul Gandhi makes it clear in his first interview: I am not scared of any one, we are battle ready
New Delhi: In his first ever interview to a television channel, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said that he is not scared of any one. He also took on the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi by saying that Gujarat government was involved in 2002 riots.
On a question whether the Congress leader is afraid of having a direct fight with Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi replied, “In my life I have seen my grandmother die, I have seen my father die, I have seen my grandmother go to jail and I have actually been through a tremendous amount of pain as a child when these things happen to you, what I had to scared of I lost, there is absolutely nothing I am scared of”

“I have an aim, I have a clear aim in my mind and the aim is that I do not like what I see in Indian politics, it is something that is inside my heart. It is like in our mythology when they talk about Arjun, he only sees one thing, he does not see anything else, you asked me about Mr. Modi you ask me about anything and the thing that I see is that the system in this country needs to change, I don't see anything else and I am blind to everything else. I am blind because I saw people I love destroyed by the system. I am blind because the system everyday is unfair to our people”, he added in his interview on Times Now.
While responding to 1984 Sikh riots as well as Gujarat riots, the Congress Vice President said, “The fact of the matter is that innocent people died in 1984 and innocent people dying is a horrible thing and should not happen. The difference between Gujarat and 1984 was that the Government of Gujarat was involved in the riots,” and continued, “The difference between the 84 riots and the riots in Gujarat was that in 1984 the Government was trying to stop the riots. I remember, I was a child then, I remember the Government was doing everything it could to stop the riots. In Gujarat the opposite was the case. The Government in Gujarat was actually abetting and pushing the riots further. So there is a huge difference between the two things.”

When asked about the criticism by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on his educational qualification, Rahul Gandhi said, "He (Swamy) has been attacking my family for 40 years... He has probably seen my degree, I have given a sworn affidavit saying I that I have got these degrees, If I am lying on these affidavits let him take the legal process and solve it.“

While on personal criticism the Congress leader said, "I respond by understanding why I am being attacked. Beat me to death, but I will keep asking questions that are relevant to the system.. Keep throwing stones at us. I am being attacked because I am doing things dangerous to the system". "Unfairness makes my blood boil. That's at the heart of my politics," added Rahul Gandhi.

While responding to questions about dynasty politics, the Congress leader categorically said, "I am absolutely against the concept of dynasty. But it happens in BJP, SP, DMK and Congress everywhere." "I am absolutely against the concept of dynasty. Anybody who knows me knows that and understands that. But you are not going to wish away dynasty in a closed system. You have to open the system," he added. To a question as to what was his view of BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, he said, "I think, we will defeat the BJP in the next elections....I will win the election. I am reasonably confident." We are Battle ready, of course. We're going to win” Rahul Gandhi said while ending his one and half hour long interview on a confident note.

Rahul Gandhi's first ever interview on Times Now, Part 05

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's gave interview on Times Now channel. He talked about the contemporary political affairs as well as about Congress party. "We have brought the RTI and empowered people and we cannot call ourselves superpower until women is empowered. And that's something that one has to discuss. We empowered people in every movement." Rahul said in the interview.

Rahul Gandhi's first ever interview on Times Now, Part 04

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's gave interview on Times Now channel. He talked about the contemporary political affairs as well as about Congress party. "We have brought the RTI and empowered people and we cannot call ourselves superpower until women is empowered. And that's something that one has to discuss. We empowered people in every movement." Rahul said in the interview.

Rahul Gandhi's first ever interview on Times Now, Part 03

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's gave interview on Times Now channel. He talked about the contemporary political affairs as well as about Congress party. "We have brought the RTI and empowered people and we cannot call ourselves superpower until women is empowered. And that's something that one has to discuss. We empowered people in every movement." Rahul said in the interview.

Rahul Gandhi's first ever interview on Times Now, Part 02

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's gave interview on Times Now channel. He talked about the contemporary political affairs as well as about Congress party. "We have brought the RTI and empowered people and we cannot call ourselves superpower until women is empowered. And that's something that one has to discuss. We empowered people in every movement." Rahul said in the interview.

Rahul Gandhi's first ever interview on Times Now, Part 01

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's gave interview on Times Now channel. He talked about the contemporary political affairs as well as about Congress party. "We have brought the RTI and empowered people and we cannot call ourselves superpower until women is empowered. And that's something that one has to discuss. We empowered people in every movement." Rahul said in the interview.

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