Rahul Gandhi: Focus of UPA has been to empower youth

Srinagar: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir Pulwama on Thursday.  Rahul Gandhi inaugurated a cold-storage facility and addressed a public rally at Lassipora in Pulwama district of south Kashmir.

“Kashmir is famous for apples. We want the apples from here reach places across the world. You need better technology and other infrastructure for that. You also need better connectivity with banks,” said the Congress Vice President. He also said that the Congress-led UPA Government at the centre has been giving priority to ensure jobs for the youth in Kashmir and other states. 

The Congress leader added that the educated youth must get proper skill development training too. “We have already taken several initiatives in this direction” said Rahul Gandhi and added “We also initiated several projects for women empowerment also and also sent funds for J&K. Lots of women are getting its benefits too”.

Rahul Gandhi is also scheduled to visit Budgam to take stock of various self-help groups launched under flagship scheme ‘Umeed’ and also will attend a function organised under it at Budgam stadium.

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कांग्रेस उपाध्यक्ष श्री राहुल गांधी ने जम्मू-कश्मीर के अपने दो दिवसीय दौरे के पहले दिन जम्मू संभाग के पंचायत प्रतिनिधियों को संबोधित किए

जम्मू-कश्मीर में सरपंच का, पंच का या लोकल बॉडी के जो नेता है उनका अधिकार क्या है बता दो हमको? कोई अधिकार है आपका? देखिए इक्कीसवी सदी के राजनीति में पंच, सरपंच व लोकल बॉडी के नेताओं को शक्ति देनी पड़ेगी। क्योंकि जो निर्णय लिया जाएगा वह गांव में लिया जाएगा। छोटे-छोटे कस्बों में लिया जाएगा और आपके बिना यह काम किया नहीं जा सकता। जम्मू और कश्मीर को बदलना है तो दो-तीन चीजे करनी है। सबसे पहले और सबसे जरूरी जो हमारे सरपंच है जो हमारे लोकल बॉडी के नेता हैं उनको पावर देनी है। उनको जिम्मेदारी देनी है। दूसरी बात जो जम्मू-कश्मीर के युवा है उनको ट्रेनिंग देनी है और उनको रोजगार दिलवाना है।

तीसरी बात जो जम्मू और कश्मीर की रीढ़ की हड्डी  है। जो हमारी महिलाएं है, जो मुझे यहां कम दिखाई दे रही हैं आज। उनकी मद्द करनी है। इन तीन चीजों को कांग्रेस पार्टी आगे बढ़ाने की कोशिश कर रही है। हिमायत का प्रोग्राम है, उम्मीद का प्रोग्राम है। हजारों युवाओं को हम रोजगार व ट्रेनिंग दे रहे है। जो जानकारी आपके पास है, गांव की जानकारी, छोटे-छोटे कस्बों की जानकारी, वह मिनिस्टर के पास और एमएलए व एमपी के पास नहीं है। उनके पास दूसरी जानकारी है, उनका दूसरा रोल है। उनका कानून बनाने में रोल है। मगर लोकल काम करने का रोल आपका है।

यहां हमारी सरकार है और मैं आपको एक बात कहना चाहता हूं कि हमारा दबाव यहां पूरा है और 73वें 74वें संशोधन को यहां पर हम आगे बढ़ाएंगे और लागू करेंगे। आपका जो हक है वह आपको मिलेगा और यह लड़ाई मैं आपके लिए लडूंगा। मैं यहां आता रहूंगा, दबाव ड़ालता रहूंगा, जब तक यह काम नहीं हुआ। रिफ्यूजी की बात और मैं जानता हूं कि उनको कष्ट होता है। उनको भी मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि कांग्रेस पार्टी आपकी लड़ाई लड़ेगी और जो भी हम आपके लिए कर सकते हैं हम करेंगे। अंबिका जी ने बार्डर की बात की बिल्कुल सहीं बात है। हमारी लड़ाई आपके साथ है। हम आपके साथ खड़े है और जो भी हम जम्मू-कश्मीर के लिए कर सकते है हम करने को तैयार है। मैं चाहता हूं कि जम्मू-कश्मीर की जनता को शक्ति मिले, अधिकार मिले। अभी मैने चीफ मिनिस्टर से बात की भोजन के अधिकार के बारे में। उनके कंसर्ट थे कि थोड़ा कम भोजन आएगा भोजन के अधिकार से और हमने उनसे कहा कि देखिए यही समस्या केरला मे थी, यही समस्या तमिलनाडु में थी और हमने, दिल्ली की सरकार ने उनकी मद्द की। जिस प्रकार हमने उनकी मद्द की उसी प्रकार हम आपकी भी मद्द करने वाले हैं।

तो भोजन का अधिकार यहां पर लागू होना चाहिए और जो भी कमियां हैं हम उनको पूरा कर देंगे, कोई प्राब्लम नहीं है। क्योंकि हम चाहते है कि जो भी फायदा यूपीए की सरकार बाकी प्रदेशों को दे रही है, चाहें वह भोजन का अधिकार हो, भूमि अधिग्रहण बिल की बात हो, पंचायती राज की बात हो, जो भी हम बाकि प्रदेशों में कर रहे है, हम जम्मू-कश्मीर में करे। जितनी मजबूती हम सरपंचों व पंचों को हम बाकि प्रदेशों में दे रहे हैं, हम यहां देना चाहते है। अगर आप केरला जाएं, तमिलनाडु जाएं, वहां राजनीति में मजा आता है। क्यों? क्योंकि सरपंचों के पास अधिकार है। डिस्ट्रिक्ट प्लान बनते है, लोकल पार्टिसिपेशन होता है, मीटिंग होती है, जनता की बाते निकलती है। यही राजनीतिक भविष्य है और यही जम्मू-कश्मीर में होगा।

मैं यहां इसलिए आया हूं, मैं आपको आश्वासन देना चाहता हूं कि आने वाले समय में आपको अधिकार मिलेगे और जब तक नहीं मिलेगा मैं यहां आता रहूंगा और आपकी लड़ाई लड़ता रहूंगा। जो भी इश्यू है, रिजर्वेशन की बात है, महिलाओं की रिजर्वेशन की बात है। उन इश्यू को हम रिजॉल्व करके आपके अधिकार को हम आपको देने वाले हैं। बस यही मेरा आपके लिए संदेश है। देखिए पहली बात यह है कि अगर मैं आपकी बात नहीं सुनना चाहता तो मुझे यहां आने की कोई जरूरत नहीं पड़ती। मैं यहां इसलिए आया हूं क्योंकि मैं आपकी बात सुनना चाहता हूं और मैं आपकी लड़ाई लड़ना चाहता हूं। भूमि अधिग्रहण बिल को लाने के लिए भट्टा पारसौल में लड़ाई शुरू हुई और भूमि अधिग्रहण बिल आया। कितना समय लगा? साल, डेढ़ साल लगा। आपको ये लड़ाई लड़नी है और हम आपके साथ खड़े हैं। राज्य सरकार पर दबाव डालेंगे।

आप घबराओं मत और यह काम हम करके दिखाएंगे। मगर यह काम एक मिनट में नहीं होने वाला है। इस काम के लिए आपको एक साथ खड़ा होना पड़ेगा। एक साथ लड़ना पड़ेगा। हम सबको एक साथ मिलकर दबाव डालना पड़ेगा। ये मुफ्त में नहीं मिलने वाला है। आप यह मत सोचों कि एक मिनट में यह काम किया जा सकता है। मगर हम आपको यह आश्वासन देना चाहता हूं कि यह काम हम करके दिखाएंगे। हम आपके साथ खड़े है और यह काम सौ प्रतिशत होगा। आप सब दूर-दूर से आये इसके लिए आप सबका धन्यवाद, नमस्कार।

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Rahul Gandhi stresses more powers to local body leaders at Panchayat leaders meet in Jammu

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi began his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from Wednesday by addressing a panchayat leaders’ conference at Jammu. Speaking to a gathering of panchayat members and sarpanches, Rahul Gandhi said in the present political environment, local leaders need to be empowered. “In 21st century politics, the local leaders need to be empowered” asserted the Congress Vice President. “If the situations need to change in J&K, we need to give power and responsibilities to our Sarpanches and local bodies” he added.

“If we want to change J&K we should focus on two-three factors. The local leaders need to be empowered; youth need to be given proper skill development training and employment; and finally the women in J&K, who are our backbone, have to be helped” explained Rahul Gandhi.

Since 2004, there is UPA Government in Delhi and our focus since 2004 has been on giving rights to people of this country. We passed the food security bill. We didn't want anyone to be hungry in this country. Look at our programs, MNREGA or Food security bill, the truth is that without Panchayati Raj and Sarpanches, these programs can't function.

These programs develop from villages. Sarpanches and Panchayats will have to support the government. Some critical decisions will be taken in small villages, and we can't do it without your cooperation. If the situations need to change in J&K, we need to give power and responsibilities to our Sarpanches and local bodies.

What power a sarpanch or panch posses in J&K? Does a sarpanch, local body leader in Jammu and Kashmir have any powers? In 21st century politics, the local leaders need to be empowered. Normally the major decisions are being taken by the government behind closed doors, but without you those cannot be implemented. If we want to change J&K we should focus on two-three factors. The local leaders need to be empowered; youth need to be given proper skill development training and employment; and finally the women in J&K, who are our backbone, have to be helped. I can't see many women here today.  This has been the focus of the Congress party too. We are providing training to thousands of youth under our schemes Himayat and Umeed.

What you can do, no MLA or minister can do. The local work needs to be done by you - that is your role. The roles of MLAs and ministers are different. They are lawmakers. But it is your responsibility to take decisions on local issues and to implement it. We have a government supported by us and we will fight for the rights of the people.  We will implement 73rd, 74th Amendment here. You will get your rights, I will fight for you. I will keep coming here till you get your rights.

I am also aware of the issues of the refuges here. I understand their difficulties. I want to assure them that the Congress party will extend all possible help for them and will fight for their rights too.
Ambika Soni ji had just spoken about the border issues. We will stand by you in your fight. We will do whatever possible for  the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We want to empower you. We want to ensure that you get your rights.

I have just spoken to the Chief Minister about Food Security Bill and he was concerned that a little less food will be allocated under the new law. The states like Kerala also had the same issue and the Centre took adequate remedial measures to solve those problems. We will do the same in Jammu and Kashmir too. We want the law implemented here as well and we will make up the deficit. Whatever we are doing in the rest of the states, we want to do that in J&K. Food security Bill, land acquisition bill and Panchayati raj need to be implemented in J&K also like in any other state.

Look at Kerala where the Sarpanchs are empowered.  There are local body meetings, district body meetings and people’s opinions are heard. That is the political future and that is what should happen in J&K. We should follow what states like Kerala & Tamil Nadu are doing in terms of local governance. I will make sure that this happens in J&K too and I will fight for you to achieve it and until it happens I will keep coming back. The Congress will resolve issues of reservation, women's rights and empower the people of J&K.

This is what I wanted to tell you. Thank you very much.

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Rahul Gandhi in J&K, addresses Panchayat leaders conference at Jammu

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi began his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from Wednesday by addressing a panchayat leaders' conference at Jammu. "If we want to change J&K we should focus on two-three factors. The local leaders need to be empowered; youth need to be given proper skill development training and employment; and finally the women in J&K, who are our backbone, have to be helped" explained Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi speaks at Panchayat leaders meet at Jammu stresses for more powers to local body leaders

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Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi began his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from Wednesday by addressing a panchayat leaders’ conference at Jammu. Speaking to a gathering of panchayat members and sarpanches, Rahul Gandhi said in the present political environment, local leaders need to be empowered. “In 21st century politics, the local leaders need to be empowered” asserted the Congress Vice President. “If the situations need to change in J&K, we need to give power and responsibilities to our Sarpanches and local bodies” he added. “If we want to change J&K we should focus on two-three factors. The local leaders need to be empowered; youth need to be given proper skill development training and employment; and finally the women in J&K, who are our backbone, have to be helped” explained Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi struck a chord with the participants in the conference by saying “We have a government supported by us and we will fight for the rights of the people. We will implement 73rd, 74th Amendment here. You will get your rights, I will fight for you. I will keep coming here till you get your rights” and the gathering greeted it with loud applauds. “Whatever we are doing in the rest of the states, we want to do that in J&K. Food security Bill, land acquisition bill and Panchayati raj need to be implemented in J&K also like in any other state,” commented the Congress leader.

Rahul Gandhi addresses Panchayat leaders' meet at Jammu

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi began his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from Wednesday by addressing a panchayat leaders' conferences. While speaking on the occasion, he stressed for the need to empower the panchayats for attaining proper development.

Rahul Gandhi: People of UP are intelligent, they will oust divisive forces and will vote for Congress

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Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed his second election rally at Salempur at Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh. He slammed the ruling Samajwadi government in the state for ignoring development and also slammed the BJP for its divisive politics. “For the past 25 years, no one – SP, BSP or BJP – talks about development of the state of Uttar Pradesh. But are you getting any benefits from these parties? There is no problem with the people here. The problem is with these non-Congress parties. The youth and women here have tremendous potential but the state government is not supporting you. This has been happening here for the last 25 years” said the Congress MP from Amethi.

Only Congress committed for development, Rahul Gandhi says in Salempur (UP)

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed his second election rally at Salempur at Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh. He slammed the ruling Samajwadi government in the state for ignoring development and also slammed the BJP for its divisive politics.

“For the past 25 years, no one – SP, BSP or BJP – talks about development of the state of Uttar Pradesh.  But are you getting any benefits from these parties? There is no problem with the people here. The problem is with these non-Congress parties. The youth and women here have tremendous potential but the state government is not supporting you. This has been happening here for the last 25 years” said the Congress MP from Amethi.

Uttar Pradesh is not having a Congress government for the past 25 years. When we were fighting 2004 general elections, we had made a promise to the people that if we win the elections we will form a government at the Centre which works for aam aadmi, the poor, the women and the youth. We had promised that we will take measures to empower the poor and downtrodden.

UPA-1 gave you the right to job. We gave the people the right to job without any discrimination. Lakhs of people could avail its benefits and we guaranteed minimum of 100 days jobs to the rural poor. Opposition raised questions from where we will have money for it. We showed them how can we arrange resources. We also waived off the loans worth Rs. 70000 crore of the poor farmers. 

We have now implemented Food Security law which guarantees that no one in our country would live hungry. Every poor across the country is now guaranteed with food grains at Rs. 1 per kilo gram. All the Congress ruled states are implementing this scheme. Uttar Pradesh is going to get maximum benefits out of this Food Security Bill, but the state government here says that it will not implement this till the next general elections. Please put pressure on state government to implement this Bill because Food Security is your right now.

For the past 25 years, no one – SP, BSP or BJP – talks about development of the state of Uttar Pradesh.  But are you getting any benefits from these parties? There is no problem with the people here. The problem is with these non-Congress parties. The youth and women here have tremendous potential but the state government is not supporting you. This has been happening here for the last 25 years.

Ultimately what is happening? These parties make people fight each other. That is what happened in Muzaffarnagar. I had gone there and had talked to both Hindus and Muslims. Both of them told me that there is no hatred among them. They told me that some political parties are inciting hatred among them and make them fight each other for narrow political gains. Who is the loser? It is the common people who suffer – not political leaders or parties.

No one is going to reap any benefit from such divisive politics. Congress party is against such ideology. We believe in inclusive growth and harmony.  We want everyone –Hindu, Muslim, Sikh - to take part in the process of development. This land belongs to all citizens.
These political parties, which spread hatred among the communities, think that they can reap political gains by such divisive tactics.

Remember, such violence take place only during elections because they think that they can win elections by engineering such riots. But I want to remind them that the people of Uttar Pradesh are intelligent. They identify the parties which incite violence and spread divisive agenda.
I also want to tell such parties that the people of Uttar Pradesh will again vote for Congress so that they need an aam aadmi government at the Centre. They did it in 2004, 2009 and they are going to do it again in 2014. They want a government that works for the people; they want a government that realises their pain; they need a government that benefit the poor farmers.

The state government here does not talk about generating employment or industries. Only Congress does so. We implemented right to job, Right to Food, RTI and waived off loans of the poor farmers – all these measures were aimed at the welfare of the common people.  But the people are not able to avail its full benefits as the state government is not properly implementing such schemes. Please put pressure on your state government to implement central schemes properly. It is for your benefit.

I urge the Congress workers here to adopt all possible measures to get the food security law is implemented here successfully. This is the way to support the people of UP. Congress party has been implementing welfare schemes for the benefits of entire people and it is your responsibility to spread its messages among the grassroots. I want every household in Uttar Pradesh avails the benefit of Food Security law.
Only the women and the youth can transform the state. We need more and more women and youth in politics to cleanse the system. We need to empower them and make them MPs and MLAs. We need the people of UP to stand up and fight to change the state of affairs here. You see what is happening in Rajasthan. There is no shortage of electricity there and there is adequate water. We have a Congress government there.  You can see similar development in Maharashtra and Delhi where Congress is in power.

We need to take everyone along with us, without any discrimination, and must bring in changes. I am confident that the people in front of me can do it.

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Rahul Gandhi strikes chord with people in Hamirpuir (UP;) urges the people to dream big

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed a huge election rally at Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur area in which he slammed the successive non-Congress governments in the state for not working towards development. "Your demands are not big. In fact you need to demand more. You must demand more industries in Bundelkhand. You must think big and dream big. We need a government which works for development of Bundelkhand" he said. "The people of Bundelkhand are crying loud but no one listens to them. The voice of Bundelkhand reaches Delhi but it is not being heard in Lucknow" added Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi addresses Congress rally in Hamirpur (Uttar Pradesh)

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Hamirpur (Uttar Pradesh) to address a huge election rally as part of his poll campaign in the state.

Rahul Gandhi in Punjab addresses Congress rally; slams BJP, praises Manmohan Singh,Part 01

Sangrur: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi while addressing a mammoth rally in Punjab's Sangrur, showered praises on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his efforts for development and also called him as his political guru. "You only gave me Manmohan Singh Ji (PM). I have two gurus in politics; one is the Congress President (Sonia Gandhi) and the other is Dr. Manmohan Singh" said the Congress leader and added "I want to underline that no one else has done so much development work for our country as done by Manmohan Singhji". "The most important quality of a politician must be good intention. If intention is clear, we can achieve everything. Manmohan Singh ji has a pure intention" he asserted.

Rahul Gandhi in Sangrur (Punjab)

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi is addressing a rally at Sangrur in Punjab.

Rahul Gandhi at Congress rally at Rampur; says no one can suppress people's voice,Part 02

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, after speaking at a mammoth Congress rally in Aligarh, addressed another mega rally at Rampur in which he took the opposition for ignoring the poor. While reiterating that only Congress talks about development and growth he said, "Only the women and the youth in Uttar Pradesh can bring in positive changes in the state. You have witnessed both SP and BSP regimes. Could you experience any development? There has been zero development in Uttar Pradesh - whether it was the SP or the BSP. This state can surge ahead only if we talk about growth and brotherhood and only Congress party can do so. If UP has to be truly transformed, you need to vote and bring the Congress to power".

Rahul Gandhi at Congress rally at Rampur; says no one can suppress people's voice,Part 01

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, after speaking at a mammoth Congress rally in Aligarh, addressed another mega rally at Rampur in which he took the opposition for ignoring the poor. While reiterating that only Congress talks about development and growth he said, "Only the women and the youth in Uttar Pradesh can bring in positive changes in the state. You have witnessed both SP and BSP regimes. Could you experience any development? There has been zero development in Uttar Pradesh - whether it was the SP or the BSP. This state can surge ahead only if we talk about growth and brotherhood and only Congress party can do so. If UP has to be truly transformed, you need to vote and bring the Congress to power".

Rahul Gandhi in Aligarh addresses mega Congress rally; slams opposition

Aligarh: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi kick started his party's campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls by addressing a mammoth rally in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh. While speaking on the occasion, Rahul Gandhi referred to the recent Muzaffarnagar riots and said those riots were instigated by political parties. "I want to tell you something about Muzaffarnagar. Hindus and Muslims died in the riots..I spoke to both communities; they told me that there is no anger between them. Politicians have created this rift. They told me that the riots were orchestrated by the people who want to divide people", said the Congress Vice President.

Rahul Gandhi in Rampur addresses mega Congress Rally

Congress Vice President and Member of Parliament from Amethi Rahul Gandhi addressed a mammoth Congress rally in Rampur. He slammed the opposition for its anti-people ideology and attitude.

Rahul Gandhi speaks on the occasion of Dalit Adhikar Diwas at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed a National Conference on Dalit Adhikar Diwas organised by All India Valmiki Federation at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday. The conference discussed among other things, the abolition of manual scavenging and new proposals for the welfare of Dalits. Rahul Gandhi explained the government schemes for the empowerment of Dalits and appealed them to join hands with Congress.

Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat, visits Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi began his two-day visit to Gujarat from Thursday, Oct 3. He visited Mahatma Gandhi's historic Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad and is also to hold a meeting of office-bearers of district and block Congress committees. Rahul Gandhi is also scheduled to attend a meeting of the national executive of the National Students Union of India, the Congress' student's wing, and elected members of local self government institutions.

Rahul Gandhi's press conference in New Delhi on Govt's Ordinance on convicted lawmakers

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi while addressing the media persons at Press Club, New Delhi said that in his opinion the Central Government's Ordinance on convicted MPs and MLAs is wrong and is a nonsense. "In my opinion, the Ordinance must be torn up and thrown away" said Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi in Bastar (Chhattisgarh): Only Congress believes in empowering aam aadmi

Bastar: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, for the first time after May 25 Maoist attack that killed frontline party leaders in Chhattisgarh, addressed a mammoth Congress rally -- Adivasi Adhikar Sammelan- at Jagdalpur in tribal dominated Bastar region in the poll-bound state. He launched a blistering attack on the opposition for blocking the pro-poor schemes and policies of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre and reiterated that his party's aim is to empower tribals and aam aadmi.