This is a government of aam aadmi: Rahul Gandhi

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing an election rally in Firozabad(UP) in support of Congress candidate Raj Babbar said that the UPA has ensured a government of aam aadmi at the centre. “This is a government of the poor, Dalits, backward and the tribals,” he said. He was addressing a rally at P D Jain Inter College ground in Firozabad where there is a by- election for the Lok Sabha to be held on November 7, 2009.

Congress General Secretary said, “The Idea behind the aam aadmi was to build one India providing equal opportunities for all. If we look at India today, there have been two Indias created over the years. One India is that of big people and the rich which is shining and other India is yours, mines and that of the poor, Tribal, farmers and Dalits. My view is that if this country has to move forward, it has to move together. So, in 2004 we formed a government for aam aadmi as we knew that it is the poor who faces most of the difficulties . They face problem in getting education and other facilities.”

He further said that the UPA government has been trying to do a lot for the farmers and the poor of this country. “Our government waived the loan of farmers worth Rs 60,000 crores. It is the farmer who produces food for us. But one of the then Chief Ministers of the NDA had said that we don’t need farmers at all; we have got the computers and call centers. Everyone eats the food grown by the farmers; you, me and everyone. But it is an irony that they still forget the farmer,” he said.

Talking about the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme he said, “First time in India, the government has ensured employment guarantee for every villager, no matter which caste or community he belongs to. Our government has ensured that every needy person gets 100-day employment throughout the year.” Talking about his frequent visits to the remote villages and its criticism by the opposition he said, “They ask me why I go and meet poor villagers or tribals. I go there as I know that the strength of India lies in the villages and its people. I want to understand them. I want to understand their problems.”

Indiraji visited Kashmir three days before her assasination: Sonia Gandhi

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on the occasion of inauguration ceremony of Ananatnag- Qazigund railway line said that Indiraji had had too much affection for the people of Kashmir. “She visited Kashmir just 3-days before her assasination. Perhaps she knew her final departure and that was the reason that she had visited this place to see the Aatish-e- Chinar and to salute this land,” she said. She further said, “This is a co-incident that we are meeting here again on the same day when our former Prime Minister Indiraji visited the valley 25 years back.”

Congress President thanked people of Jammu and Kashmir for participating in huge number in the Loksabha and assembly elections. She said, “By coming out in big numbers during the polls you have shown to the world that you want peace and development in the valley. You have shown that you have full faith in the democratic process.”

Talking on the new railway line connecting Anantnag to Qazigund, she said, “This railway line is an example of state’s great leap towards development. Developmental projects can not be done without peace and we all know that there is no issue which can not be solved by negotiations within the framework of democracy.” She further said, “It has been our belief that Kashmir has a special place in the picture of secular India and the UPA government under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh has made special efforts to develop the state. It has got maximum grant from the Centre, unparallel in recent time.s The people of Jammu and Kashmir should get the maximum benefits from government initiatives.”

She expressed happiness over the functioning of the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. She said that the state and Centre both are leaving no stone unturned for the development of this state. “Many big educational and health institutes are being set up in Jammu and Kashmir and there are many electricity projects in pipeline which will enhance the power generation in the state. This state is also witnessing the arrival of many industrial units which will help in solving unemployment problem. First time in the history of the state, Anantnag has appeared on the railway map and railway connectivity between Jammu and Udhampur has also been established.”

Congress President hoped that in coming years more and more areas of the state will be connected through railway lines which will provide more opportunities to the people. She said that tourism industry will also get benefited through these rail projects as transportation is a big tool “With the inauguration of this project, the valley is being linked with the rest of the country and certainly this will enhance the movement of the people from other part of the country, strengthening the bond of brotherhood and mutual affection among them. This will also strengthen our democracy. So, it is not a special day for Jammu and Kashmir alone, it is a special day for the whole country,” she said.

She concluded her speech by thanking Railway Minister Mamata Bannerjee, her ministry and its employees for fulfilling this uphill task of building railway lines in the valley.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah, Rail Minister Mamata Banerjee and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad were also present on this occasion.

Congress wins 9 out of 11 seats where Rahul Gandhi campaigned

With the declaration of election results for three state assemblies, Congress is going to form government again in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh. Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi campaigned for three days in Maharashtra and Haryana. The Congress won majority of seats where the young leader addressed election rallies. Out of 11 seats, where Congress General Secretary addressed rallies, the party won 9 seats. Congress General Secretary addressed rallies in Kalamnuri, Teosa, Yavatmal, Chandrapur, Panvel, Pune cantonment, Shahada, Aurangabad in Maharashtra and Ateli, Ballabhgarh, Samalkha in Haryana. The Congress won all except Samalkha and Chandarpur in these elections.

In Maharashtra where Congress General Secretary addressed rallies, the party retained two seats namely Pune Cant and Aurangabad while it gained 5 seats from other parties. The new seats which congress gained from other parties are Yavatmal, Teosa and Shahada from BJP, Kalamnuri from Shiv Sena and Panvel from Peasants and Workers Party of India. BJP could retain only Chandarpur out of four seats it retained earlier.

In Haryana, Congress retained Ballabhgarh while it gained Ateli from an independent while it lost Samalkha. .

Our total focus is on eradication of poverty: Rahul Gandhi

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while interacting with the media in Ranchi said that he interacts and listens to common people because he wants to understand their problem. He said, “I go to poor people’s house, I go to universities, colleges and cities. I have talked to a police constable in this city; I want to understand their problem. Sitting at my house I can’t understand them.” He further said that the media and opposition have created discrimination that whenever I go to a poor man's house ; some people find it objectionable which I am unable to understand. In my view, they are not poor people; they are simply a human being for me who didn't get the opportunity.
Congress General Secretary said, “There is only one difference between the rich and the poor; and that difference is of getting opportunities. A rich person has got opportunity while a poor has not. So, I go to villages, universities and want to meet as much people as possible. I want to understand their problems.”

Speaking on the price rise of the commodities he said that state governments do have some role in it. “Sometimes it increases, sometimes it decreases and it is a cycle. The central government tries its best to provide a helping hand to the poor. Our biggest programme the Employment Guarantee Scheme provides 100-days employment to the poor. We have taken many steps in this direction; we waived the loan of farmers worth Rs 60,000 crores. So, ours is a government of aam aadmi. Our whole thought process, our ideology is for the aam aadmi; and we work for the aam aadmi.

Replying to a query of his revolutionary work plan whenever he becomes the Prime Minister, he said, “This is a hypothetical question. India has a very capable Prime Minister whose name is Dr Manmohan Singh. He is running the country very well.”

Talking on the corruption in NREGA programme he said, “Such type of statements are of sweeping nature; especially in a state having least corruption in this programme. You can look at Rajasthan, Andhtra Pradesh and other state, where this work is going smoothly. Though, there are states where this is not being run properly; but if you look at the overall picture it is running smoothly where the state government wants it to run. So, this depends upon state government. The role of central government is that; it designs the programme and sends fund for it. But the fact is that, NREGA has, for the first time, created a minimum wage in this country; it has created a floor and benefited millions.” He further said, “This programme is run properly where Congress governments are in power; because we have a focus on it. You go to the villages and ask the people which programme is benefiting them most.”

Congress General Secretary said, “I am in charge of Youth Congress... I can tell you that after our organizational elections, more and more people will find place in Parliament, state assemblies and especially in Panchayat bodies. I can tell it to you with a guarantee. We have experimented this in Pudicherry where in every village; there are 250 to 300 Youth Congress workers. We are going to repeat it in Jharkhand too. Our maximum focus is on Panchayats; our organization is designed in such a way that people from every background can find a place here.”

Responding to a query about the cancellation of his recent Arunachal Pradesh tour, he said, “My take on Arunachal Pradesh is exactly same as that on Jharkhand, or Uttar Pradesh or any other state of India. My attitude towards all Indian state is exactly the same. Arunachal is Indian state, Jharkhand is Indian state and Tamil Nadu is Indian state. Attitude of the Youth Congress is exactly the same about every Indian state, every single Panchayat, every single Vidhansabha and every single Lok Sabha.”

Congress General Secretary said, “We have focused on education and provided Mid-day meal for the children. The NREGA, Right to information and Unique Identity Cards are our other achievements. Now, anyone can ask a question to government regarding any scheme. So, our total focus is on eradication of poverty.”

Talking on the implementation of central schemes like NREGA, he said, “There are two things, I tell you. The central government designs the programme and arranges fund for it; but it is upto the state government whether they are interested in it or not. For example, we focused more on NREGA in Uttar Pradesh; we designed a large programme for the state. But the Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawatiji said that this programme is of no use; they will not run it. So in such a scenario, we don’t have much to do. It is being run smoothly where Congress is in power.”

Speaking on Naxalism he said, “There is concrete unanimity as far as the government is concerned on Naxalism. Naxalism has two issues, one which I have always stated; government in the states like Jharkhand, Orrisa and Chhattisgarh are not reaching to the people. That is one angle of the problem. The second angle of the problem is that; as the governments are not reaching to the people, it has turned into a law and order problem. So, if you want to analyze and assess Naxalism in my view, you have to look at these both front. You have to ensure that the government programmes reaches the people and you have to combat Naxalism as a law and order problem.”

Congress General Secretary said, “Not only in India but all over the world the scale of violence has increased; it has increased due to many things. Automatic weapons have become accessible and one can kill hundreds of people with these weapons. But if we look at India, the over all law and order situation is satisfactory. There are pockets like Jharkhand, Orrisa and Chhattisgarh, where governments are not reaching to people.
Second point is that; as I told in Himachal Pradesh, two Indias have been created. One India is yours and my India, the India of opportunity, education, health and employment and other is that of villages where opportunities are very rare. So, we have to focus on those parts of India and bridge the gap.”

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi visits Jharkhand, interacts with tribal youths, party workers and women

On the first day of his two day visit to Jharkhand, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi visited Dhanbad after interacting with tribal youths and party workers in Sahebganj and Dumka. In Dhanbad, Congress General Secretary had a meeting with Youth Congress delegates from four adjoining parliamentary constituencies, namely Giridih, Koderma, Hazaribagh and Dhanbad. The meeting took place at Penman Auditorium in the campus of Indian Institute of Mines (ISM).
Outside the meeting venue students of ISM waited in queue to pledge their demand to the young leader. There has been a constant agitation going on in ISM campus to grant it an IIT status. Students demanded the same to Congress General Secretary. Congress General Secretary assured them that he will raise this issue before the Ministry of Human Resource and Development.
Thereafter, Congress General Secretary left for Hazaribagh where he attended a meeting of ‘Yuva Mahila Congrss’. The meeting took place at Nagar Bhawan in the city. Around 600 young women aged 18 to 35 across the state attended the meeting and interacted with the young leader. There, Congress General Secretary said that women must enter politics and Youth Congress is the best platform for this. Thereafter, he left for Ranchi to attend another programme in the evening.
Earlier in the day, Congress General Secretary attended meetings of tribal youths and Youth Congress workers in Sahibganj and Dumka. He will interact with the media in Ranchi tomorrow and attend a series of meetings in the state.
Congress General Secretary is on a two day tour to the state; major part of which is facing the Maoist violence.This visits is a part of his nationwide tour to strengthen the Youth Congress and NSUI.

We have to provide more opportunities to Youth : Rahul Gandhi

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while interacting with the media at Shimla remarked that in every party there were people who managed to reach at the top through connections and references; and we can not change it overnight. However, he accepted that in Youth Congress and NSUI he was trying his best to get rid of this problem. He hoped that the youth of this country will join these organizations in large numbers and in coming years its impact will be felt in politics.

Talking about the Youth Congress organization in Punjab he said, “If we view our youth organizations in Punjab, the top leadership of the NSUI and Youth Congress has come from the grass root. These grass root youths do not have any connection. At Panchayat and block level, maximum of our leaders are common youth who are working for the organization.”

He emphasized that in coming one or two years, the fairness in the Youth Congress election will be seen. “We have to conduct a fair election in both these organizations; we have already done it in four states starting from one. Gradually we will cover the whole country,” he said.

Congress General Secretary stressed the need for an age limit in party’s youth organizations. He said that people above 35 years of age will not be the office bearers of Youth Congress and NSUI. He further said that doors were open for the youth to enter Youth Congress and NSUI which was once closed for them. “We have a clear vision for the future; none of the party in the country whether it was BJP or his party, provided more opportunity for the youth; and he will try to focus on this issue.

Congress General Secretary talked in length on Pakistan He accepted that the incidents taking place in that country did have some impact upon us. “But the international image of Pakistan has changed over the years; it is not like 8 years before when NDA was in power,” he said.

Talking on the role of regional parties in Indian politics he said, “They have their different roles and they do what they have to do.”
Congress General Secretary said there have been two Indias created over the years; one of rich and one of the poor. We have to build one India. He said that the Unique Identity Card will help in making policies meant for the poor and trace the loopholes.

Congress committed for prosperity of all: Sonia Gandhi

“Make comparison with past regimes on development scale”
October 11, 2009, Nuh (Haryana): Expressions were profuse and well-punctuated with gratitude as All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi thanked a mammoth gathering while addressing an election rally at Nuh in Haryana on the concluding day of election campaign on Sunday, for making the Congress party the biggest political force in the state since 1999.
“I feel a sense of pride whenever I come here as Haryana has a special place in the Indian culture and its freedom movement. I salute this land of brave people whose patriotic loyalty is written in golden letters in the history of India,” remarked Congress president.
Harping on the developmental issues and the party’s concern for the common people, Gandhi told the gathering that until the weaker section of the society gets uplifted, the basic objective of development could not be achieved.
Congress President said, “Our party fights for your cause. For instance, it has worked for the progress of Mewat. The Haryana government has created a Mewat Development Board and Mewat has been made a district.”
She further said, “Drinking water has been a problem in this region. As a redressal measure, the Hooda government launched Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Scheme worth Rs 425 crores in this region. And you know, I had myself come here to inaugurate this project.”
Reflecting on the national agenda of the Congress-led UPA government, Gandhi said about their commitment for development of minorities and women in the country. With an aim to bring them in the mainstream of the socio-economic structure, she said that UPA government has created a separate ministry.
Recommendations of the Sachar Committee are being implemented fast and the central government is developing those districts where minorities have a sizeable presence, Congress president said, adding that the government is also providing scholarships to the students of minority communities under Maulana Azad Foundation.”
Speaking on the UPA government’s initiatives for women empowerment, she said, “Earlier women used to get 33% reservation in Panchayats, but now we have ensured that they get 50% reservation.”
Talking about farmers and the agricultural sector, she said, “Congress Party has special concern for our farmers and we feel, if our farmers are not happy, our society is not going to be prosperous. Keeping this in view, the UPA government waived the loan of farmers benefiting millions of our hard working farmers. Besides, we also raised the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of sugarcane and other crops and this was never been done before.”
As you all know well that it is no longer a secret as far as the differences between the Congress and the BJP are concerned, she said. “We are a party which believe in work and work for all. We are seriously committed for development of one and all.”
But, you may recall that what other parties did for you when they were in power and how they behaved with you, she asserted. “In the regime of other parties in the state, there was anarchy everywhere. Farmers and common people were in distress,” she said before concluding her speech with an appeal to vote for Congress in the state Assembly polls on Tuesday and thus, to strengthen the government of common people.
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