Tuesday, October 13, 2009

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.

Monday, October 12, 2009

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.
…ends

Saturday, October 10, 2009

We have to wage a war against poverty: Rahul Gandhi

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing an election rally in Ballabgarh said that this assembly is being fought between two different ideologies. He said that one ideology belongs to Congress, which speaks of common man and other talks about India Shining and some chosen people. “In recent Loksabha election, you elected Manmohan Singhji as your Prime Minister, at that time too, both these ideologies were in front of each other.” He further said, “We say if this country makes progress, each and every person will move forward whether he is a poor, Dalit, farmer, labourer or a Tribal. But our opposition talks about an exclusive development benefiting some selected people.”

Congress General Secretary said that in the election of 2004, there were two slogans during the election campaign. “One was India Shining which meant India was progressing fast. First of all, the slogan was in English. When someone asked a senior opposition leader about this slogan as to where did they find it; they said they got it while watching a television advertisement. They did not come to you; they did not go to the farmers, labourers, nor they asked them whether their part of India was shining or not. They just put it on television and sought your support,” he said. He further said, “In that election we gave you the slogan of aam aadmi. We talked about the poor, Dalits, farmers and an inclusive government. And you told them that you need a government which cares for all; and not the one which talks about the rich and big people”

Speaking on the works done by UPA and state government of Haryana, he said, “ Manmohan Singhji and Hoodaji have done a lot of developmental projects for you. They have ensured an inclusive growth and pushed India ahead. The UPA government carried out the largest ever Employment Guarantee Scheme for the rural poor and managed money for the scheme. . However, during the debate in Parliament our opposition said that Congress is wasting the money.” He further said, “We felt that the previous NDA government had completely forgotten the farmers; so we carried out a loan waiver programme for them worth Rs 60,000 crores. Again, our opposition questioned that where was the money coming from? We did this, because we felt that farmers of this country fight daily for our country. Not only that, we ensured Mid-day meal for school going children as we felt that it is the poor which needs education the most”

Congress General Secretary said that he had contested two elections and in both those elections, the opposition did not have any issue for the people. “They talked on Pakistan, terrorism and Jinnah but they never spoke on poverty. You can understand their psyche.” He further said, “There is only one big issue in India and that issue is the prevailing poverty in our country. If we have to wage a war, it must be against poverty.”

Talking about his village visit with a British minister, he said, “.Once a minister from England came to meet me in Delhi. He asked me where does India's strength lie. I said, if you want to understand the strength of India, you have to step out of Delhi, you have to go to villages and talk to poor people, farmers and women. I took him to a village in UP where he spoke to villagers, ate with them and spent a night there. On his way back to Delhi, he told me that he understood why India is making so much progress. But the next day I read in newspapers, senior BJP leaders criticizing me asking why am i showcasing the poverty of India to a foreigner. Basically, our opposition leaders are ashamed of the conditions under which poor people live and they don’t want to even talk about it.”

Will send every member of Youth Congress to work in the villages: Rahul Gandhi

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing an election rally in Samalkha(Haryana) criticized opposition parties for ignoring the poor, farmers and villagers. He said, “One of the Chief Ministers of NDA had said that the country did not need farmers; we have computers and IT. They get their food grown by farmers still they criticize them. However, we say that the farmers are the backbone of this country; that’s why we waived the loans worth Rs 60,000 crores. We provided mid-day meal in the government schools and all we did and do is for the welfare of the poor.”

Congress General Secretary said that the UPA government launched the biggest ever Employment Guarantee Scheme, NREGA, for the poor. “Because we felt that the previous NDA government had completely ignored the poor and farmers,” he said.

Talking about his visits to villages he said, “When I go to villages and stay at poor people’s houses, our opposition wonders why Rahul Gandhi is going to poor people’s house? They feel ashamed of it. Once a minister from England came to meet me in Delhi. He asked me where does India's strength lie. I said, if you want to understand the strength of India, you have to step out of Delhi, you have to go to villages and talk to poor people, farmers and women. I took him to a village in UP where he spoke to villagers, ate with them and spent a night there. On his way back to Delhi, he told me that he understood why India is making so much progress. But the next day I read in newspapers, senior BJP leaders criticizing me asking why am i showcasing the poverty of India to a foreigner. Basically, our opposition leaders are ashamed of the conditions under which poor people live and they don’t want to even talk about it.”

Congress General Secretary said, “Our opposition leaders feel ashamed in talking on poverty; while we want to find out the root cause of poverty and eliminate it” He further said, “During the campaign in last general election, our opposition talked about Pakistan, terrorism and Jinnah but they never talked about poverty. This word does not suit them.”

Talking on the growing disparity in the country, Congress General Secretary said, “Our opposition wants to create two Indias; one which consists of the rich and one which lags behind and is poor. We want to build one India, India of progress where every section of the society, be it Dalit, backward or labourer, everyone moves forward together.” He further said, “In 2004 election, you told them that you need the government of aam aadmi, government which takes the initiative towards loan waiver and the government which works for the backward people. You sent them back for five years. But again in 2009 they appeared with same issues and this time you packed their baggage for 10 years.”

Talking on the Youth Congress and NSUI he said, “As a General Secretary of Youth Congress I want to tell you that only those leaders will move ahead in our organization who will fight for the poor, backwards, dalits and farmers. I will send every member of Youth Congress to villages because I feel that the real strength of India lies in villages and in the poor. I will groom leaders from villages; our country needs the strength hidden in the poor and farmers.”

Congress General Secretary said that there is a government of aam aadmi in Delhi, which works for the welfare of common man. He appealed to bring back the Congress government in Haryana, so that the Centre and State together could develop the state. He appealed to them for making their choice between a government of India Shining and a government of aam aadmi.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Congress works for Dalits, poor and backward people : Rahul Gandhi

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing an election rally in Amravati (Maharashtra) reiterated that these elections are being fought between two ideologies. While Congress-led UPA speaks about Dalits ,Tribal and poor people the other ideology is that of the opposition which talks about India Shining and progress for a chosen few.
He said, “We say if India moves forward, every section of the society will move forward. Dalits, Tribals and the poor will move forward together. In 2004 elections there were two alliances. Manmohanji and Soniaji called for aam aadmi, while the NDA called for India Shining. The NDA created their slogan in English, which half of India could not understand. They did not go and talk to you; they just made their slogan by watching television.
In that election, you told them your India was not shining. You told them that you need an aam aadmi's government.. You told them that you would vote for Manmohan Singhji, Soniaji and the Congress Party. You would bring to power a government that works for poor people, for Dalits and Backwards.”
Rahul Gandhi sought people's support in ensuring that the government of aam aadmi gets anothert term, so that the poor, the backward and Dalits could be served better.

Opposition ashamed of talking about poor people: Rahul Gandhi

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing an election rally in Hingoli (Maharashtra) once again reiterated that over the last sixty years two Indias have formed. One of the rich and other of the poor. “One India belongs to the poor, Dalits and farmers living in villages, while the other India belongs to rich people living in cities. And this election is being fought between two different ideologies; one which talks about the poor and one which talks of the rich,” he said.

Talking about his visits to villages he said, “When I go to villages and stay at poor people’s houses, our opposition wonders why Rahul Gandhi is going to poor people’s house? They feel ashamed of it. Once a minister from England came to meet me in Delhi. He asked me where India's strength lay. I said, if you want to understand the strength of India, you have to step out of Delhi, you have to go to villages and talk to poor people, farmers and women. I took him to a village in UP where he spoke to villagers, ate with them and spent a night there. One his way back to Delhi, he told me that he understood why India is making so much progress. But the next day I read in newspapers , senior BJP leaders criticizing me asking why I am exposing the poverty of India to a foreigner. Basically, our opposition leaders are ashamed of the conditions under which poor people live and they don’t want to even talk about it.” Rahul Gandhi further said, “I think that poor peoples are the real strength of India and if this country is progressing it is due to the hard labour done by the poor. We have to ensure that they get their due share in the development process.”

Talking about the work done by UPA in the last five years, Congress General Secretary said, “In last five years our government launched the biggest ever Employment Guarantee Scheme in the world, ensuring 100-days employment for the rural poor. We did it, but during a debate in Parliament, our opposition said that we were wasting money. Again, we waived farmer loans worth Rs 60,000 crores. In the Parliament I especially spoke about farmers from Maharashtra and Vidarbha because they have specific problems; land holdings are big here; so there must be different solutions for them. However, at that time too, BJP and Shiv Sena asked where the money was coming from? So, money meant for poor people is a problem for them, but it is not a big problem if it is going to big people.”

Congress General Secretary said, “I have come here to tell you that whatever resource this country generates in the development process, it will be used to educate your children and to provide health facilities for you. I do not care what the opposition says, we have done it in the last five years, we will do it in the next five years and so on. This process will continue till there is a single poor person left in this country".

Rahul Gandhi concluded his speech by appealing to all to vote for Congress and re-elect the government of aam aadmi.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

We have to build one India : Rahul Gandhi

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing an election rally at Panvel in Raigarha district of Maharashtra, appealed to vote for Congress-NCP alliance for the welfare of common man. He said that people of Maharashtra have two options before them in this assembly election. “One ideology is that of Congress which talks about aam aadmi, backwards and the poor while other talks about India Shining and some selected people,” he said.

Congress General Secretary said that India under the UPA government is progressing very fast. “We had promised in 2004 that if country moves forward, aam aadmi will move forward; and we have fulfilled that promise,” he said.

He further said that the UPA government launched NREGA for the rural poor to provide them 100-days guaranteed employment. “Wherever we go, we ask the people that which scheme benefits you most? They talk about NREGA; but during parliamentary debate our opposition had criticized it saying that we were wasting money,” he said. He further asked, “The money meant for rich class is not a waste, then how can the money spent for the poor be a waste?”

He said that sixty years ago when India got independence not many people in this country were rich; almost all were poor. “But during last sixty years, some people became rich while half of the India is still languishing in poverty; we have to bridge this gap and build one India,” he said.

Congress General Secretary said, “Our country is progressing fast but we have to ensure that surplus money be used for the literacy, health and employment generation for the poor. We have to connect both Indias.”

Talking about the strength of common man, he said, “Every individual is the strength of this nation and we have to groom this strength. We have to make sure that the villagers get employment in their native place like their urban brethrens. Villages should make progress like cities.”

Speaking about the works done by UPA government he said, “ We have launched NREGA, laon waiver for farmers and enacted RTI; and in coming years we will do more for the common man”