Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will lead his party's campaign for the general election, but he will not formally run for the country's top job, Congress president announced yesterday.
Sonia Gandhi gives concluding note:
- Some of the suggestions made today, including the passage of key bills, will be considered by the government
- The energy which I see today is proof that if we decide to work with unity and discipline, nothing can beat us.
Rahul Gandhi begins his address:
- It is an honour for me to speak to you, to the soldiers of the Congress party
- Last year, at a similar gathering I spoke about optimism, the same energy that is unleashing
- For the last 10 years we had the privilege of Manmohan Singh's leadership
- Would like to thank the PM for the job he has done for this country
- 'The Right to Information' is a big step that we took
- We restored information, information is power, through the RTI we gave power to the people of this country
- We gave information that was robbed off in government offices, we gave you the power
- Nobody pressurised us to bring in the RTI
- The Congress party stood up and said we need to do this and give every person in the country the right to know what is going on
- Nobody pressurised us to bring in the RTI
- The Congress party stood up and said we need to do this and give every person in the country the right to know what is going on
- We are first government to take action and say that the money belongs to you and it needs to be put in your account
- It will enable people to get their benefits and entitlement
- We transformed Panchayati Raj system; MNREGA transferred power to people
- We constructed and reinforced the pillar
- Would like to thank Mani Shankar Aiyar as he was the one to stand by this
- Nobody can refuse a poor man when he goes for a job, for food or an Indian if he'll ask a question about this country
- What the Congress delivered in the past 10 years is an unmatched frontal power to the people of this country
- Laws are being made by judges, by everyone else except for those who have been elected to make those laws
- We need to bring the voice of elected local self government representatives
- We need to empower all of you and bring you back into law making
- We need to bring the voice of the MPs back in Parliament and the voice of MLAs back in legislatures
- Common people should be able to enter politics
- It's not about another election, it's a turning point
- Either we wake up to people's aspirations or we have no business to claim
- The change that is taking place before us is unstoppable
- We do not respond by blocking Parliament sessions year after year, day after day
- We do not respond by turning people against one another, by lighting the fire of communal violence
- We need to look for solutions not problems
- We have six bills in Parliament, the Opposition has stalled Parliament these year after year
- These bills are going to transform the fight against corruption
- If these bills are implemented in spirit, dishonesty will be punished and honest officals will be protected
- Will ensure that Opposition doesn't stall these six bills
- Congress workers will be given a say in party affairs
- We have to bring in the new generation, the young and new ideologies
- All Congress workers will fight this election, not any leader
- This is just the beginning... party workers will have a say in governance
- We will hear what the workers want when we make our manifestos and deliver on the promises we make
- In 15 constituencies, we'll ask workers to choose candidates. If it's successful, we will implement it widely
- In the last 10 years we fought for the poor of the country
- Makes oblique attack on Narendra Modi saying structures of democracy will not be handed over to one person
- 70 crore people are above poverty line but below middle class
- The Congress party will fight for you (painters, masons, security guards, those who cannot afford education) and stand by you
- In the next five years we will ensure you guys fall in the middle class category
- The education system will be open for all, in the next five years we will transform the country
- I want to see 50% women at AICC sessions, Parliament and among chief ministers of state governments
- The Congress party will fight your battle (to the women) not just in our speeches but in our actions too
- I want to tell Mr Prime Minister: 9 LPG cylinders are not enough, the women of India want 12 cylinders
- I want to talk about the Opposition now. Let the Opposition say whatever they want to
- Their marketing skills are very good... there's chamak, naach, gaana
- The Opposition comprises such people who can even sell combs to the bald
- The Opposition has good marketing skills - they were selling combs to bald men but have now resorted to giving them haircuts
- There is a set of new people which has gone a step further. They have promised to give haircut to the bald... don't fall into their trap
- The Opposition leaders are fooling the people of the country
- Opposition they want a Congress-free India, but they aren't aware of the history of our country
- They have no knowledge about history
- Congress party is an ideology and this lies in our heart
- Congress is not a party, it's a mindset
- Congress reflects our culture, our tradition
- PM chosen by Members of Parliament, yeh loktantrik party, democratic party hai aur rahegi
- We will win the elections and show them
- I am your soldier, will do whatever is asked by you all
- Our MPs will decide our PM
- We are not assembled here as individuals today, we are assembled as trustees of an idea. And we are going to defend this idea
- We respect the liberty and dignity of every single one
- We do not love our country because it is powerful, we love our country because it upholds the ideals
- We love this country because it always taught us to love one another, to remain united, to never ever to give up no matter how hard or difficult the struggle is
- We will go into this battle as warriors with our heads held high
- We will not look back
- We will go into this battle knowing who we are and what we stand for
- We will fight with everything we have within us, all of us
- We will not lose courage and we will not stop
Quotable quotes from key Congress meetA gigantic all-day brain-storming session of the Congress is being held in Delhi today on the national election, due by May. Below are some notable quotes from party leaders during the meet.
Rahul Gandhi to address Congress meeting shortly.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addresses Congress meeting:
- This session is very important for us as it will help us prepare for Lok Sabha elections better
- No reason to lose hope after poor showing in the recent elections in 5 states
- I have no doubt that if we prepare well and inform people about the government's achievements, we will win
- We have to appeal to people to scrutinise the track record of Opposition parties and compare it to our government
- Opposition making tall claims which are impossible to fulfill
- We must tell the people that Congress is the only party that can provide an inclusive, secular India
- Economic growth will remain at 5 per cent this year
- We are trying hard to improve our economic growth
- But this economic slowdown is a global effect, not just in India
- In the last year, Cabinet passed projects worth 5 lakh crores
- Officers are afraid of taking decisions because they fear being questioned by the CAG
- We're trying to remove obstacles in the decision-making process
- We have always catered to women and poor
- Women security has been our prime focus
- Sexual harassment policies and laws have been implemented
- No matter where we pitch the poverty line but poverty rates are definitely decreasing
- Due to rapid economic growth, resources with the state governments have also increased
- Many states that were previously backward are now growing at a fast pace
- On the education front, primary, secondary and higher education services have been developed
- Almost all children now attend schools and get a mid-day meal
- Many new institutions have been opened
- Skill development has also been our focus
- We plan to impart skills to 5 crore youth
- It is true that inflation is on the rise
- But people who produce vegetables etc have benefited from the price rise
- Salaries have also increased dramatically
- Need is that apurty ko badhen and improve storage services
- In the last 10 years, our youth have been empowered by the social media
- People want better services from government offices
- Many people across the country still face the poverty challenge
- On Corruption: Never before has there been as much transparency as there is now
- Lokpal is a good step in curbing corruption
- We have made mistakes but we have always tried to learn and work on them
- We must focus on areas that need more attention
- These problems won't get solved by mere sloganeering
- We need a vision that will be inclusive, and only Congress has this vision
- I have no doubt that under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi we will achieve success in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to address crucial Congress meeting at 12:30 pm
P Chidambaram speaks at the Congress convention:
- I ask you to look back 10 years ago when we met in this place to celebrate victory and to chart the course for the future
- I also ask you to look forward to the next 10 years
- I say this with utmost confidence, that I have no doubt that people will ask Congress to lead this country
- We have to win from poverty, illiteracy, hunger and many more
- Our idea of India is that we will build liberal and democratic India
- Idea is not that we will grow but that growth leads to inclusive growth
- Idea that every man woman gets social justice
- Our idea is that work will not be complete in 5-10 years, or the lifetime of anyone present here
- Resolution captures that idea of India
- Please read the resolution, every sentence underlines the idea of India
- Point to any government anywhere in India where such economic growth was achieved
- No other government or period has witnessed this growth
- I speak of inclusive growth
- More roads is growth but more roads on Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya or Jammu and Kashmir is inclusive development
- Congress is not a party which fades when not in power
- Congress party was standing at guard at the turning points of Indian history
- Congress has stood rock-like in last 65 years in defending the interests of the people
Ghulam Nabi Azad speaks at Congress meeting:- Most villages are now joined by roads
- For the first time, UPA made sure schools are opened in villages
- Education has been developed in many villages
- 52,000 hospitals have been constructed in 9 years
- In 4 years, MD and MBBS seats have increased
- Unfortunately, we are very poor with PR skills but in serving people - we are superhero
Rahul Gandhi forced to come on stage, says, "Whatever you want to hear, I will explain it to you in my speech at 3.30 pm."
After Sonia Gandhi's speech, Congress workers raise slogans demanding Rahul Gandhi's nomination
Party President Sonia Gandhi addresses meet.
- Don't shout Rahul's name
- We have taken a decision about Rahul Gandhi at the CWC meeting yesterday and that is final
- These elections will be a battle for India as it was conceived by our founding fathers
- Congress is ready and prepared for battle ahead
- This elections will see conflicting ideologies
- Battle for preservation of secular traditions
- 2014 will be a battle for preserving secular traditions
- Want to send clear signal that Congress is ready for battle ahead
- We have demonstrated our resilience
- Inspite of economic growth, the fact is disparities are widespread
- Growth must be sustained
- Catering for this, is a necessity
- On corruption: I presented 5 point action plan to combat corruption
- We will do our utmost to pass crucial bill when Parliament opens next month
- Appeal to all parties to rise above political considerations to help pass anti-graft bills pending in Parliament
- RTI Act is the single most important reason why citizens feel empowered to fight corruption
- Education is the way to eradicate ger barabari (discrimination)
- New laws have been made against domestic violence and abuse
- State government, panchayat receive a lot of assistance from the Centre
- Never before have they received such assistance
- I want to ask: Has any government done so much? No one.
- For us, secularism is not a poll agenda
- This is a matter of gehri astha (deep faith)
- The Opposition hides behind a mask, attacks and maligns Congress leaders and even incites violence
- I would request people to be calm (naram rukh adopt karne ka request karti hu)
- Our party established the foundations of democracy in this country
- Our party worked towards poverty alleviation
- Will not stop efforts until we rid India off poverty
- Regardless of poll results, it is only our party that is active
- We will face the upcoming challenges
- Hum sab ka sankalp aur vaani ek honge (Our commitment and voices will be one); sangarsh me humari jeet hogi (We will emerge victorious in the battle)
- New generation wants to be heard. The government has raised aspirations and desire for change
- Our party alone, regardless of winning or losing a poll, is present in every lane of the country
- Don't for a moment forget that each big change in the country has happened thanks to the Congress
- We have the strength to fight
Party leader Arvinder Singh Lovely gives Congress President Sonia Gandhi a shawl, presents PM with a memento. Slogans of 'Rahul Gandhi Zindabad' can be heard.
Seen here, Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi felicitated with a garland.
AICC meet begins
at Talkatora stadium.
Seen here, PM Manmohan Singh (L) with Kamal Nath (Middle) and AK Anthony.
Seen here, Congress vice President Rahul Gandhi.
"I wanted Rahul Gandhi to be anncounced the PM candidate... I hope that when they do announce a prime ministerial candidate, it will be Rahul Gandhi," Ramya, the youngest MP, said on attending her first AICC session.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi to address All India Congress Committee (AICC) meet shortly.
Rahul Gandhi won't be PM nominee, decides Sonia GandhiRahul Gandhi will lead his party's campaign for the general election, but despite the clamour for him to be named the prime ministerial candidate of the Congress, he will not formally run for the country's top job, said sources.
Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Rahul Gandhi announcement: "They (Congress) are aware that a comparison will be made so to duck that they haven't even announced it."
BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad says:- A clear conclusive and a massive defeat for the Congress so they thought why should we name Rahul Gandhi as PM candidate
- They understand the reality
- They know he will be compared to Narendra Modi
- They know Congress won't come to power, therefore why declare Rahul Gandhi as a candidate only to let him down?
Janardhan Dwivedi says:- 16 members, Congress President and Vice President spoke at the meet
- We discussed on Rahul Gandhi and he spoke himself. Most CWC members wanted him to be named Pm candidate
- But Congress president intervened and said the Congress doesn't have such a tradition. If some other party has named its candidate doesn't mean we need to do
- The Congress president declared that the next election will be fought under Rahul Gandhi's leadership
- Rahul Gandhi said he felt that people were trying to attack the Congress ideology and he was committed to protect it. He reiterated that he will do whatever the party expects him to do
The highest decision-making body of the Congress, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), will meet today and is expected to finalise the draft of a resolution to be moved at the All India Congress Committee(AICC) meeting tomorrow.