Rahul Gandhi at Thiruvanathapuram; addresses rally to mark the conclusion of Kerala Yatra

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Thiruvananthapuram: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally here on Saturday in connection with the culmination of the Kerala Yatra, led by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala. Senior Congress leaders including Defence Minister A K Antony and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy also addressed the rally. The Kerala Yatra had begun from Hosangadi near Manjeswaram in Kasaragod on April 18.

Jaipur: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to Rajasthan, said on Thursday that he was very sad that BJP and other opposition parties had created hindrance for political reasons in passing the Food Security Bill in the Parliament.

"We are trying in Parliament to get Food Security Bill passed in the larger interest of people, but I am sad that it could not be done because of BJP and opposition. This is very sad that they created hindrance for political reasons," Rahul Gandhi told the reporters after feedback meetings with Congress workers and leaders in Jaipur.  The Congress Mp,  however, expressed hope that the Bill would be passed in future.

Rahul Gandhi added that the Rajasthan government had done good work and launched several welfare schemes like free medicines and pension, among others.

Rahul Gandhi in Rajasthan: No tickets should be given for those with criminal records

JAIPUR: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to Rajasthan, has said that the BJP would soon be reduced to the status of a single-state party. On the last day of his tour to Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi said the BJP called itself a national party but the truth was it had governments only in four states: Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The Congress Vice President said the Congress was going to throw the BJP out of power in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in the upcoming assembly elections. "Goa has a tradition of having different parties in power every six months," Rahul Gandhi said at an extended executive meeting of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee. "That leaves the BJP visible just in Gujarat. So much for a party that thinks it is a national party," he added. The meeting was attended by party men including chief minister Ashok Gehlot, state president Chandrabhan, Union and state ministers, and legislators.

About Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi said “After the free generic medicines and the pension schemes, the scenario has changed and the Congress is on the plus side." Rahul Gandhi added that he had realised the mood of party workers had changed and the Congress was going to retain power after the assembly elections later this year. Rahul warned that the infighting among senior leaders posed the real hurdle for the party. The Congress leader later told the media that people with criminal antecedents would not be fielded in the elections. "I believe people with criminal records and negative approach can be clearly avoided (while deciding the party candidates)," he said.

Rahul Gandhi said party tickets would be distributed early. "We did this in the Karnataka election and succeeded," he said adding "We should succeed here also; there is no special ticket distribution formula for Rajasthan." He said the Congress ran an "aam aadmi ki sarkar" (common man's government). "At the Centre also we have two major issues directly related to the common man, but because of the opposition these are stuck. One of them is the land acquisition bill, while the other is the right to food security bill," said Rahul Gandhi.

He told Congress legislators to begin working in their constituencies. "You still have three-four months before elections," Rahul Gandhi said. "Go to the people, hear their grievances and get them relief." Rahul Gandhi was all praise for the Gehlot government's welfare schemes, especially the free medicines/tests schemes and pensions for the old, handicapped and widows. "Other states are also adopting these schemes," said the young Congress MP.

Rahul Gandhi visits Rajasthan; holds discussions with Congress leaders

Bikaner: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi who is on a two-day visit to Rajasthan, interacted with party workers and leaders in Bikaner on Wednesday  and discussed strategy on revitalising the party ahead of state assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

Ticket distribution, fine-tuning the party for upcoming assembly and general elections, and ties between the party and government were on the agenda of several meetings Rahul Gandhi had with Congress workers. The Congress Vice President, who arrived here on Wednesday morning, also took feedback from workers and leaders about the party's affairs and political situation in the state.

Rahul Gandhi had the view that the party at the block-level should be strengthened and leaders empowered. He also suggested a proper coordination between them and the government.”MLAs and MPs should also work in coordination with the party" added the Congress leader.

Rahul Gandhi suggested strong candidates of NSUI and Youth Congress should be given a chance to contest elections and not those who were defeated twice or more. The Congress candidates who lost in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections were also invited for the meetings.

It was a rare initiative taken by one of the party's top leaders to directly interact with the elected leaders from the lowest rung of democratic bodies in rural as well as urban areas- councillors from the municipalities were also invited for the meeting. In turn, the panchayat and municipal leaders expressed their woes before the party vice-president on how the senior leaders in the government sidelined them and ignored their suggestions while taking policy decisions. Rahul Gandhi has given an assurance of strengthening the grassroots workers' voices.

At another session with the elected leaders of Youth Congress and NSUI, the Congress vice-president advocated the idea of the youth being given the chance to turnaround the party's prospects in regions where its senior leaders have consistently failed. For the upcoming assembly elections, Rahul asked chief minister Ashok Gehlot to consider fielding Youth Congress and NSUI leaders from constituencies that the party consecutively lost in the past two elections.

In his first interaction with the elected representatives of panchayatiraj bodies from rural Rajasthan on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi praised these grassroots leaders for their deep understanding of a common man's issues. Rahul Gandhi said these party workers made for better leaders as compared to the "helicopter netas" (high-status leaders) or the "parachute netas" (leaders with no local connect).

Congress workers greet Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi after party's win in Karnataka

Congress workers assembled at 10 Janpath, New Delhi to greet Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi after party's massive victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls. Congress secured absolute majority in Karnataka routing the ruling BJP government winning in 121 seats.

Rahul Gandhi’s gesture; asks MP Congress unit to adopt a poor child he met

Bhopal: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi ahs done it again. In a generous gesture, the young Congress leader asked the Madhya Pradesh Congress unit to adopt a poor teenager who used to sell newspapers in Bhopal. Informing the media about their charitable act, Pradesh Congress committee president Kantilal Bhuria said that Rahul Gandhi had personally advocated that the boy should get best of education.

 “As per Rahulji’s wish, PCC will donate Rs 1,000 every month so that Kaushal Shaukya can go to school. His father has also been appointed as the peon at one of the educational institutions run by a Congress leader,” Bhuria said. The MP Congress Chief also informed that the boy who had told Rahul that he wanted to become a doctor.

Kaushal reportedly met Rahul Gandhi when he was on a visit to Bhopal on April 25. Eager to meet the Congress vice-president, Kaushal had intercepted his car and offered him newspaper. Struck by his candour, Rahul enquired that why didn’t he go to school. Kaushal told him that his father couldn’t afford a decent education for him.  Kaushal, a class fifth student, sells newspapers. On April 25, when Rahul was heading for Raja Bhoj airport in a car, Kaushal approached him and requested to buy a newspaper. Rahul took the newspaper and handed him a Rs 1,000 note, but the boy returned it, saying he had no change, and he was offering the copy for free. The Congress Vice President then had a brief chat with him.

After Rahul Gandhi returned to Delhi the following day, he asked his personal staff to collect more information about the boy and after getting the information, he asked the Madhya Pradesh unit to help the boy. With this gesture, Rahul Gandhi once again proved that he is undoubtedly the leader of aam aadmi.

NSUI leaders meet Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpath, New Delhi

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Sonia Gandhi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpath, New Delhi

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi meet NSUI leaders at 10 Janpath, New Delhi

Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi meet NSUI leaders at 10 Janpath, New Delhi

Karnataka: Sonia Gandhi’s matured leadership reflects in the big win for Congress

New Delhi:  The massive victory for the Congress clearly demonstrated the perfect leadership acumen of Congress President Sonia Gandhi supplemented by party Vice President Rahul Gandhi. They had extensively campaigned for the state assembly polls and the results show that the Congress could win most of the seats where these two leaders had campaigned.

After the landslide victory in Karnataka, the Congress correctly questioned the Gujarat chief minister's popularity outside his state and hailed the role of Rahul Gandhi as a mass leader.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh also hailed Rahul Gandhi for playing a leading role in the campaign in Karnataka. "It is a clear result against the ideology of the BJP, which has been ruling in the state of Karnataka," he said.  Responding to a query about the Lok Sabha elections, the PM said, "People of the country know what is what and they will reject the BJP ideology as the result in Karnataka shows." "I am very happy with the victory in Karnataka. It was a joint effort," said Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Making a departure from the common refrain about assembly elections being fought on local issues, senior Congress leaders also questioned Modi's popularity outside his domain. "No one knows Modi outside Gujarat. It has been proved again by Karnataka," said Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh. And Union minister Kapil Sibal termed Modi a "big zero", saying that he had no impact on voters in Karnataka.

Rahul Gandhi's contributions, on the other hand, came in for praise. Rahul Gandhi had put in enormous hard work in the state and he also had interacted with various sections of the people. As senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes noted, "Rahulji has been working in Karnataka for over five years." "Wherever he (Rahul) went in Karnakata, the Congress won most of those seats," says another Congress leader.

The Congress did perform well in many places where Rahul Gandhi had campaigned. For instance, it swept the BJP bastion of Bagalkot. In another BJP bastion, Belgaum, the Congress performed well. The Congress made improvements or at least retained its tally from the last election in other districts visited by Rahul Gandhi—Mandya, Tumkur, Hassan.

Modi, on the other hand, had a hugely successful meeting in Bangalore in terms of turnout, but the BJP's tally in the capital city, which has 28 assembly constituencies, came down from 17 in 2008 to 12 in 2013. The Congress swept the BJP stronghold of Mangalore where the Gujarat chief minister had sought to stoke Hindutva sentiment by talking about cow slaughter. Modi and Rahul Gandhi had addressed public meetings in Belgaum, too, but there also Congress crushed the BJP.

Similarly Sonia Gandhi also silently, but, in a matured way supervised the election process in the state and Congress could earn good results where she had campaigned. With her effective interventions, with the help of senior Congress leaders, Congress could overcome the rebel threats also in many parts of Karnataka.

This victory, will undoubtedly, act as a morale booster for the Congress and it will now look for similar results in the next General elections also. With the matured leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Congress hopes for yet another term for Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.

Rahul Gandhi attends the funeral of Sarabjit Singh

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Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Friday attended the funeral of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian prisoner who died at a hospital in Pakistan after he was brutally attacked by a group of inmates in jail. Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes to Sarabjit at the cremation ground in his Punjab hometown of Bhikhiwind and also had interacted with the family members. A sea of people has gathered at the cremation ground to have a last glimpse of their hero. Draped in the Tricolour, his body was brought to the cremation ground where his last rites will be performed shortly. The 49-year-old Indian prisoner died in a Pakistan hospital yesterday after being brutally attacked in a Lahore jail last week.

Rahul Gandhi attends Sarabjit Singh's funeral; thousands pay last respects

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Friday attended the funeral of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian prisoner who died at a Pakistan hospital after he was brutally attacked in a Paki jail by inmates. Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes to Sarabjit at the cremation ground in his Punjab hometown of Bhikhiwind and also had interacted with the family members. A sea of people has gathered at the cremation ground to have a last glimpse of their hero.

Rahul Gandhi meets Sarabjit's family to console them

New Delhi: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met the family of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian prisoner who died at a hospital in Pakistan after he was brutally attacked by a group of inmates in jail. During the meeting that lasted for nearly an hour, Rahul Gandhi reportedly got very emotional. He hugged Sarabjit's sister Dalbir Kaur and consoled her. He reportedly also broke down while talking to her. Sarabjit's wife Sukhpreet Kaur and daughters Poonam and Swapandeep were also present during the meeting.

Rahul Gandhi meets the family of Sarabjit Singh in Delhi

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met the family of the Sarabjit Singh, who died at a Lahore hospital. He spent about 45 minutes with the family, consoled them and took the family alongwith him to the airport. The body of Sarabjit is expected to bring back soon to India from Pakistan by a special flight.

Rahul Gandhi campaigns in Hassan (Karnataka), slams BJP

"BJP promised a lot but did nothing" said Rahul Gandhi, the Congress Vice President while addressing a well-attended Congress rally in Karnataka's Hassan as part of his campaign for the assembly polls in the state. He urged the youth and women to join politics to transform the system. Rahul Gandhi assured that Congress, if voted to power, will bring back development in Karnataka and will work for the development of entire people in the state.

Rahul Gandhi hits out at BJP in Hassan (Karnataka); says it ruined the state

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There was a time when Karnataka was shining in all fields. But it lost its shine under the misrule of BJP” said Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi while addressing a well-attended Congress rally in Karnataka’s Hassan as part of his campaign for the assembly polls in the state. He urged the youth and women to join politics to transform the system. Rahul Gandhi assured that Congress, if voted to power, will bring back development in Karnataka and will work for the development of entire people in the state.

Rahul Gandhi campaigns in Karnataka: Hits out at BJP over corruption

Hassan: Congress Vice President RahulGandhi on Wednesday lashed out at the BJP for its double-speak on corruption. “BJP talks loud about corruption in Parliament. But the rampant corruption in Karnataka, under its rule’ is not visible for them” said Rahul Gandhi.  "We have given you RTI to expose corruption," he claimed. "The BJP leaders talk about corruption. Yesterday in Parliament, they spoke about corruption. But they will not talk about Karnataka. They will not mention the corruption in Karnataka. They will not say a chief minister went to jail. They will not say Reddy brothers who they sold the entire state to... they talk about corruption," continued Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing a big Congress rally in Hasan ahead of the May 5 Assembly Elections, Rahul Gandhi sarcastically said the BJP has won the world cup of corruption. Striking an emotional chord with the people of the state, the Congress Vice President said “The state of Karnataka developed because of the hard-works put in by the poor, farmers and the labourers in the state. But today the development is not seen in the state due to the ignorance and misrule of the BJP government here”. He further charged that the BJP has mortgaged Karnataka's future to mafia.

“The money we have today belongs to the people of this country and it should reach back to the people. That is why Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre implemented policies like MNREGA and RTE” explained the Congress leader.

He said Karnataka had a lot of natural resources, among them huge iron ore reserve. "This wealth does not belong to one individual. It belongs to everybody in Karnataka. It belongs to the youth and old people of Karnataka.'

In an indirect dig at former BJP leader and ex-state CM BS Yeddyurappa, Rahul Gandhi urged the people to elect a chief minister who doesn't spend time in jail. He further noted that nobody was happy with the political system and there was a need to include youth and women in the system to bring in real change. “I request the youth and women in the state to join politics to transform the system” stated the young Congress leader”.

“BJP had promised a lot but did nothing” alleged the Congress MP and added “While Congress believes in inclusive growth, BJP follows a divisive agenda”.

“The responsibility of an MLA is to work for the people. There is no place for any MLA in the Congress party who does not work for the people” asserted Rahul Gandhi amidst loud applauds from the crowd.

Earlier, while addressing another Congress rally in Mandya, Rahul Gandhi said “There was a time when the state of Karnataka was shining in all fields. But the state has now lost its shine due to the misrule of the BJP”.

Rahul Gandhi urged the people to oust the present BJP regime in the state and to elect a pro-poor, pro-development, progressive Congress government to bring back the lost glory of Karnataka.