Merit will decide power in Congress: Rahul Gandhi

Mumbai: Only a person with merit will be brought to power in Congress said Congress General secretary Rahul Gandhi at the office-bearers of the Youth Congress at a closed-door meeting in the Bhaidas auditorium in Mumbai on Friday.

“Rahul Gandhi asked the 1,000-odd crowd, how many of us had a political background. When only 10-15 persons raised their hands, he was pleased and said it signifies that the Congress is breaking away from dynastic politics. He said all the delegates are here because of their achievements,” Utkarsha Rupawate, vice-president of the Shirdi Lok Sabha Youth Congress Committee said.

Rahul Gandhi also met members of the college units and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) from across the State. Both meetings together lasted more than three hours.

“Some delegates asked him why he toured only Uttar Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi said this was his first political tour in Maharashtra and he would now keep visiting the districts in the state to review grass-roots work. He will review constituency-wise work,” said Tushar Pote, second year BBA student of SSGM College from Kopargaon.

Rahul Gandhi said that he, along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, would tour Maharashtra extensively for the 2014 Assembly elections.

The delegates are learnt to have brought up the issues of corruption, nepotism, public image and dynastic politics within the party.

Those who attended the meetings said Rahul Gandhi gave them directions to strengthen the party at the grass-roots level. “He told us, we can speak against our own government if it is going wrong. Rahul Gandhi also said that we have to fight for people's problems,” Ms. Rupawate said.

This article is posted by pressbrief.in

Sonia Gandhi at the 105th birthday celebrations of Shivakumara Swami at Siddaganga Mutt in Bangalore

Congress President Sonia Gandhi attended the 105th birthday celebrations of the highly respected Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swami at 'Siddaganga mutt' at Tumkur in Bangalore, which is considered to be one of India's oldest religious institutions. “May Dr Shivakumara Swaijee continue to inspire lakhs and lakhs of people across the state, across the country and indeed across the world in the cause of education, social service, philanthropy and spirituality,” said Sonia Gandhi paying respects to the seer.
The Congress President added, “The primary education has been made a fundamental right. It is for all of us to ensure that this right is asserted and imposed so that all of India’s children from 6 to 14 receive free education”.
Striking an emotional chord with the people of Karnataka, Sonia Gandhi asserted that nothing exemplifies India’s diversity better than Karnataka itself, where people belonging to different culture, believing in different faith and speaking different languages have lived and worked for peace and harmony with each other.
Sonia Gandhi also asserted that education must inculcate respect for the wonderful diversities of our society. “It is this diversity that has given us strength. Beneath this diversity lays the continuity and unity of our great nation” stressed Sonia Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi: SP, BSP enacting drama in UP by cheating people

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi attacked both Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav and asked what they did for the dominant Muslim community in the state of Uttar Pradesh. While addressing a Congress rally in Kaushambi the Congress General Secretary said that both these parties ignored the plight of Muslims, dalits and backward community.

“It is these non-Congress parties - SP and BSP - enacting the real drama in U.P. I will not mention BJP as it is not existing here anymore.” Said Rahul Gandhi.

“What did the Muslims get in the past 22 years? It was Congress led Government at the Centre which implemented the Sachar Commission’s recommendations. But the money sent to U.P did not reach the people” said the Congress leader.

“Mulayam Singh Yadav was the Chief Minister for three terms. Mayawati also ruled the state. No one talked about reservation for the Muslims. But when the Congress decided to give reservation Mulayam says that it is insufficient. Mayawati says she had written to the Prime Minister. What were they doing when they were in power? Rahul Gandhi asked.

“Where were they – Mayawati and Mulayam – when the Bunkars were crying? It was Congress which listened to their problems and helped them with a relief package” added Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi reiterated that he will continue meeting the people, hold their hands and mingle with them till development is back in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress MP from Amethi urged the people to support Congress for the betterment of the state.

This article is posted by pressbrief.in

Sonia Gandhi at Siddaganga Mutt to pay respects to Shivakumara Swami jee in Bangalore

Bangalore: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi is attending the Guruvandana programme of Siddaganga Mutt in Tumkur. The occasion was to pay respects to Shivakumara Swami jee on his 105th birthday celebrations. “May Dr Shivakumara Swaijee continue to inspire lakhs and lakhs of people across the state, across the country and indeed across the world in the cause of education, social service, philanthropy and spirituality” said Sonia Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi visits drought-hit Satara in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi visited various places in the drought-hit Satara district in Maharashtra Saturday morning. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and other senior ministers were also along with him.
Rahul Gandhi visited the Zalshi Talao, which is one of the water sources in the district. He is also scheduled to go to nearby Bijwadi to take a look at state government sponsored employment guarantee schemes being implemented there among the drought-affected people of Satara and also will visit the Pangari fodder depot in the district which supplies fodder to a large cattle population in the region.

Congress introduces policies after going to the people and realizing their pain: Rahul Gandhi

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while speaking at a Congress rally at Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh as part of his Congress campaign in Uttar Pradesh had said that Congress always introduced policies after going to the people and realizing their pain.

“Congress went to the people to know their difficulties. They complained that there are no jobs available in villages. That is why the Congress-led Centre introduced the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme. By this scheme every poor is guaranteed with hundred days of job at a daily wage of Rs. 120,” informed Rahul Gandhi.

“Mayawati Ji says MNREGA scheme is a drama of Congress. Thousands of crores of rupees were sent to U.P under this scheme, but for her it is a drama. Mulayam Singh Ji also did not implement MNREGA when he was in power. But he now promises unemployment allowance. There would have been no need to give unemployment allowance, had he properly implemented this employment guarantee scheme,” argued Rahul Gandhi.

“The Congress again went to the people. The poor farmers told that the doors of the banks are closed for them. They also informed us about the huge burden of debts. The Congress led Central Government, therefore, made a policy for waiving off loan worth Rs. 60000 crores for them and also opened the doors of the banks,” said the Congress General Secretary.

This article is posted by pressbrief.in