Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at the Bhopal event
Bhopal:
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was in Bhopal on Monday to participate in Mahila Samvaad, an interactive session with almost 250 women from across the country to seek inputs for the party's manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, due by May.
In the one-hour session at the city's Minto Hall in old Assembly premises, the 43-year-old leader shared anecdotes, promised 33 per cent quota and pitched for women empowerment.
"I want to tell you my perspective... In my house, there was papa (Rajiv Gandhi), there was uncle (Sanjay Gandhi) but the boss of the house was my Dadi (Indira Gandhi). There was no doubt about that that. Grandma was the boss," the Gandhi scion said.
The media was kept away from the venue but Congress had arranged for a webcast. In the discussion, activists, social workers, and especially abled used the platform not only to put forth their suggestion for the Congress' manifest but also aired their problems.
Transgender rights activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi raised the problems faced by their community. "What does Congress have to give us? The transgender term is an international borrow... We don't even have a word in Hindi," she said.
Visually-challenged Dr Fatima Jamali shared the problems faced by the specially-abled. " I tried explaining Rahul Gandhi that specially-abled are highly qualified as well but they don't get equal opportunities. He has assured that he will try to get us our right," she said.
Critics feel the Congress is not doing anything unique by seeking public opinion for their manifesto. The AAP had also sought voters' opinion before the Delhi assembly elections. But the women delegates felt the inspiration is immaterial as long as they were heard.
Rahul Gandhi's visit to Madhya Pradesh came a few weeks after his party faced a humiliating defeat in the recent assembly elections. The party's tally came down from 71 to 58. Mr Gandhi also held meetings behind closed doors for about 30 minutes with party members and lawmakers.
In the one-hour session at the city's Minto Hall in old Assembly premises, the 43-year-old leader shared anecdotes, promised 33 per cent quota and pitched for women empowerment.
"I want to tell you my perspective... In my house, there was papa (Rajiv Gandhi), there was uncle (Sanjay Gandhi) but the boss of the house was my Dadi (Indira Gandhi). There was no doubt about that that. Grandma was the boss," the Gandhi scion said.
The media was kept away from the venue but Congress had arranged for a webcast. In the discussion, activists, social workers, and especially abled used the platform not only to put forth their suggestion for the Congress' manifest but also aired their problems.
Transgender rights activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi raised the problems faced by their community. "What does Congress have to give us? The transgender term is an international borrow... We don't even have a word in Hindi," she said.
Visually-challenged Dr Fatima Jamali shared the problems faced by the specially-abled. " I tried explaining Rahul Gandhi that specially-abled are highly qualified as well but they don't get equal opportunities. He has assured that he will try to get us our right," she said.
Critics feel the Congress is not doing anything unique by seeking public opinion for their manifesto. The AAP had also sought voters' opinion before the Delhi assembly elections. But the women delegates felt the inspiration is immaterial as long as they were heard.
Rahul Gandhi's visit to Madhya Pradesh came a few weeks after his party faced a humiliating defeat in the recent assembly elections. The party's tally came down from 71 to 58. Mr Gandhi also held meetings behind closed doors for about 30 minutes with party members and lawmakers.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
