He is trying hard to establish an emotional connect with his audience. In Rajasthan for election rallies, the Congress yuvraj told personal stories and his dream to create an inclusive India, which will give all an equal right to the country’s resources.
Agency Report
Churu (Rajasthan): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a direct attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while making an emotional pitch among voters in poll-bound Rajasthan.
The BJP hit back asking if he had any solutions to India’s current problems.
Voting for the assembly in the state is slated for Dec 1 and counting on Dec 8 in an election where the Congress is trying hard to retain power ahead of the 2014 national polls.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi accused the BJP of sparking communal tensions for political benefits. “I am against the kind of politics BJP does as they spark fire of tension for political benefits … they hurt people for political gains,” said Gandhi.
“They (BJP) will go to Muzaffarnagar and set fire. They will go to Gujarat and set fire. They will go to (Jammu and) Kashmir and will do the same. We have to run from pillar to post to douse the fire.” Deriding the BJP’s divisive politics, he said he wanted the people of India to be united.
However, Gandhi surprised the crowd with his praise for former vice president and BJP stalwart Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. “Shekhawatji deserves respect as he was a Hindustani leader first and then a Rajput leader,” he said.
In reaction, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “Rahul Gandhi has nothing to offer for the current problems of India.” Prasad targeted the central government over the high prices of onions, saying, “The government, it appears, has lost control.”
Gandhi equated the plight of the people of Uttar Pradesh’s riot-ravaged Muzaffarnagar district with himself. “My grandmother was murdered. My father was murdered. Now I may also be killed one day. I don’t care about it,” said Gandhi.
His grandmother, then prime minister Indira Gandhi, and his father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, were both assassinated. While Indira Gandhi was gunned down by her Sikh bodyguards in Delhi Oct 31, 1984, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber at a political rally in Tamil Nadu May 21, 1991.
Noting that “anger is seeded in people”, Gandhi recalled the 1984 incident to share his story with the people. Gandhi said he and his sister Priyanka were taken home, hidden under the passenger seats of a car by bodyguards. “When I reached home, I saw blood of my grandmother on the road and the blood of two security guards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, in a room. They had always been like my friends. The incident filled me with rage. It took me 10-15 years to calm down my anger,” said Gandhi.
Gandhi referred to his speech as “dil ki baat” (A talk from the heart) and said he wanted to share his story with the people. “I was in classroom at my school when someone approached my teacher and whispered something in her ears. The teacher told me to go home immediately. I called up home from principal’s office. I heard a scream from our house maid. I was told something wrong had happened to my grandmother,” recalled Gandhi.
Gandhi added that recently a legislator from Punjab was sitting in his room. “The legislator told me that had he met me 20 years ago, he would have murdered me. But now he wanted to hug me. The point I want to drive home is that nobody has in-built anger. Anger is instilled by political parties. It takes years to calm down the anger, but a minute to ignite it. That is why I am against BJP and its politics,” said Gandhi.
Noting that anger is not only generated by murder, but by lack of basic amenities, he highlighted the welfare schemes of the central government. “Unemployment and hunger also create anger. We are working towards eradicating these things. That is why we brought in employment guarantee scheme and food security bill,” said Gandhi.
He added that the Congress wants to develop an infrastructure to promote manufacturing. The Gandhi scion said he wants the youth to have political rights in their pockets just like they have mobiles.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, AICC general secretary Gurudas Kamat and several other senior party leaders addressed the rally. Discus thrower Krishna Poonia joined the party at the rally.
Congress manifesto to have suggestions from all: Rahul
Kherli (Alwar): In another rally, Rahul Gandhi said the party’s election manifesto will not be prepared in closed rooms this time around as people’s suggestions will be included.
On the occasion, a 13-year-old village girl, Nitu Saini, invited by Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh launched a website in the presence of Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The website will be used to collect feedback and suggestions from people for preparing the party’s poll manifesto.
Gandhi said usually manifestoes are prepared in closed rooms. “Just five-six people write the manifesto. But, we have now decided that our manifesto will be written by commoners,” he said. Gandhi said he has asked party workers and leaders to meet everyone irrespective of caste, religion or background and seek suggestions from them. (IANS)