Rahul Gandhi addresses Congress workers at the Plenary.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi today kick-started the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign with nearly 50-minute long speech as he addressed the party workers at the All India Congress Committee's 84th Plenary Session. He spoke in both Hindi and English.
In his elaborate speech, where he spoke about several controversies including the Gauri Lankesh murder case, demonetisation, Rafale deal, Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack at the ruling NDA government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He made several strong remarks and even went on to the extent of saying that PM Modi considers himself "God."
Here are the updates of Day-2 of AICC's 84th Plenary Session:
"While accusing Modi government he forgets that Congress did worst of genocide of Sikhs, they brought censorship in media and are known for all kinds of corruption and scams. He should first apologise for all that," HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. Read the full story
here.
"Congress is even questioning the EVMs at this time, they want ballot paper system. At a time when technology is making it simpler & more transparent, here is a party that is against it because they don't believe in transparency," Nirmala Sitharaman was quoted as saying by ANI.
Amit Shah Has Been Cleared By The Court: Nirmala Sitharaman
After Rahul Gandhi referred to Amit Shah as "murder-accused" during his speech, Nirmala Sitharaman said, "He chooses to name the BJP President Amit Shah and says he's a murderer. He has been cleared by the court. The charge does not hold. It was a conspiracy by the Congress Party. It was a conspiracy based on fraud. It was a false and a motivated campaign.
Press Can Save Themselves: Nirmala Sitharaman On Rahul Gandhi's Press Jibe
"He (Rahul Gandhi) says that they'll save the press. They are fully capable of taking care of themselves. We respect them and know that they're the fourth pillar of democracy," she said countering Rahul Gandhi's remark on attack on press under NDA government.
PM Fighting Corrupt, This Worries Congress: Nirmala Sitharaman
"Congress is worried because Modiji is fighting the corrupt. They want to protect the corrupt. The same Rahul Gandhi went to JNU when anti-national statements were made. Didn't expect these irresponsible statements from the Congress. When did the Anti-Sikh riots happen? We condemn these remarks. Rahul Gandhi will be responsible for the downfall of Congress,"she said.
Launching a counter-attack after Congress President Rahul Gandhi delivered a speech at Congress Plenary Session, Nirmala Sitharaman talked about former prime minister Indira Gandhi and said, "Since when has the Congress become custodians of judiciary. Have they forgotten what Indira Gandhi did." She said in a veiled attack at the grand old party in an apparent reference to the Emergency era.
"It sounds like a rhetoric of a loser devoid of substance," BJP leader and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was quoted as saying by news agency ANI when she was asked about Rahul Gandhi's speech.
"Congress Party wants to identify itself with the Pandavas. The same party which questioned the fundamental existence of Lord Ram. It is the party which chooses to mock Hindus and Hindu rituals," she added.
In this picture, Sonia Gandhi looks on as her son and party president Rahul Gandhi addresses the Congress Plenary.
During the speech, Congress President Rahul Gandhi attacked the ruling BJP and made references to the recent Rafale controversy, PNB Fraud, economic condition of the country, demonetisation, among other issues. Take
a look at some of his top quotes.
Modi Is Not Fighting Corruption, He Is Corruption: Rahul Gandhi On Rafale Deal
Referring to the Rafale deal, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said, "We paid Rs 570 crore per plane and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi paid Rs 1670 crore for the same plane. He paid Rs 1,100 Cr more per plane. Forget fighter planes you can't trust such a man to buy vegetables. Modi is not fighting corruption Modi is corruption."
"Modi personally changed Rafale deal and bought 36 aircraft for the same price that we the Congress negotiated for 126," he added.
Rahul Gandhi gave a 50-minute long speech at the Congress Plenary. He spoke both in English and Hindi.
PM Modi Diverts Our Attention From Problems Of The Nation: Rahul Gandhi
"Instead of acknowledging the challenges facing the nation, PM Modi diverts our attention away from our problems. We are being told that our problems only exist in our imagination: Congress President Rahul Gandhi," he said.
There are two visions before the world today - American and Chinese. My aim is to present an Indian vision to the world: Rahul Gandhi at the Plenary
Unlike BJP, We Can Accept Our Mistakes, Modi Ji Thinks He Is God: Rahul Gandhi
"We are different from BJP. If we make mistakes, we accept. Prime Minister decided to demonetise Rs 500, Rs 1000 notes. But he did not accept that it was a mistake. If we would have done that mistake, we would have accepted and rectified. But PM Modi thinks he is God,"he said.
We Will Protect The Press: Rahul Gandhi At Plenary
"We will protect the press. You can write anything about us. Congress ka haath aapki raksha karega (But the Congress will protect you). Our ideology is going to win in 2019. BJP is losing elections one after the other," he said.
"RSS To Blame For Rift In Judiciary": Rahul Gandhi
"For the first time, we saw that four judges were running to the common man to seek justice. The RSS is to blame for it. They only want one institution- The RSS (BJP's ideological mentor): Rahul Gandhi at Congress Plenary," Rahul Gandhi said referring to the four Supreme Court judges holding a press conference.
Rahul Gandhi Says Congress Needs To Evolve
"This organisation is the strength of this country. Only this government can provide employment. For that this organisation must change. Some of you may not like it, but this organisation must change. There's a lot of potential in our workers," Rahul Gandhi said at the plenary.
"There is a wall between the common workers and the leaders. I will break that wall. We'll do it with love. We'll respect our senior leaders and break the wall with love," he added.
The name Modi symbolises the collusion between India's biggest businessmen and the Prime Minister. Modi gives Modi 30,000 crores of your Money and in turn, Modi gives Modi money for marketing Modi and fighting elections: Rahul Gandhi at Congress Plenary
Rahul Gandhi Talks About Current Economic Scenario In India
In an apparent reference to the PNB Fraud case that emerged recently, Rahul Gandhi said, "The finance minister will be silent because he and his government work for crony capitalists. If you're poor, your only choice is to be a farmer or an unemployed person."
He added saying, "They will say to you that the pain in your stomach is your imagination. PM jumps from one event to another -- from surgical strikes to Gabbar Singh Tax to a fancy Yoga Parade. There's no money, but let's do Yoga. We do not work for the rich and powerful. We are servants of the people. Nobody can silence us."
Rahul Gandhi Lashes Out At RSS
"Ideas of the RSS were reflected when the criminals were beating up youngsters in Una. When we demand answers, we are asked to remain quiet. They stay millions of Muslims, you don't belong here. They say Tamils to change their beautiful language. They tell people from the Northeast, 'We do not like you're food'. They told Gauri Lankesh and Kalburgi to shut up or you'll be killed. They tell women to wear the right clothes or' you'll be thrashed'," he said while taking a jibe at the RSS.
Farmers are dying and PM Modi wants to do yoga: Rahul Gandhi said while taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Congress party understands deeply that we are working for the truth. India expects more from Congress party because it holds us to a higher standard than any other party: Rahul Gandhi
Congress Fought For India's Freedom: Rahul Gandhi
"The soil of this nation is stained with the blood of our men and women. Gandhiji died for India, but India must never forget that when our leader were sleeping in jail, their leader, Savarkar was writing letter begging for mercy from British," he said at the plenary.
Congress Is The Voice Of The Nation: Rahul Gandhi at the Plenary
Thousands of years ago there was a huge battle on the field of Kurukshetra. The Kauravas were extremely powerful and arrogant. They fought a small army led by pandavas. The pandavas were humble. They didn't speak much. Unlike the kauravas, they fought for the truth. Like the kauravas, the BJP and RSS are designed to fight for power. Like the Pandavas, the Congress is designed to fight for the truth. They will accept a man accused of murder as the president of the Bjp
But people will not accept the same in the Congress. India will never let us behave like the BJP. It will punish us if we do nothing. BJP is the voice of an organisation. Congress is the voice of the nation
Drawing a comparison between the BJP and Kauravas Of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Rahul Gandhi said the ruling party was drunk on power.
Rahul Gandhi is addressing the party members now.
"Why don't you go to Hundi collectors in Tirupati? They count money faster than you": P Chidambaram to RBI officials
P Chidambaram addresses Congress workers at the AICC's 84th plenary session
Manmohan Singh accused the PM Modi government of making false promises during the elections. "When Modi ji was campaigning he made lots of tall promises, those promises have not been fulfilled. He said we will provide 2 crore jobs, we have not seen even 2 lakh jobs," he said.
Cross border terrorism, internal terrorism source of great worry, says Manmohan Singh
"Modi government has mismanaged Jammu and Kashmir": Manmohan Singh
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh today accused the PM Modi government of mismanaging Jammu and Kashmir."The atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir is deteriorating day in and day out. Our country needs to recognize special problems of Jammu and Kashmir,"Mr Singh said. He further added that the issues facing the state should be tackled and sorted.
Manmohan Singh speaks on the last day of Congress' plenary session
"Matter of concern that we have mismanaged our relations with world's major capitals"
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma spoke at the last day of the session today. "Today it is a matter of concern that we have mismanaged our relations with major capitals of the world, with major strategic partners & our immediate neighborhood," he said.
On the second day of the session on Saturday, Sonia Gandhi had accused the Congress of leaving no stone unturned to destroy the Congress but added that the party would not "cower"
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh likely to make a speech on the last day of AICC's plenary session.