"Will Honour Fishermen With Dedicated Ministry": Rahul Gandhi: Highlights

Tom Vadakkan, senior Congress leader and a close aide of Sonia Gandhi, today joined the BJP in a major setback for the opposition party ahead of the national elections in April. Justifying his move, Mr Vadakkan said he was "deeply hurt" when his party of 20 years "questioned the integrity of the armed forces". He also said that he believed in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development narrative.

"When government is taking 28% tax from fishermen, it is Gabbar Singh who is taking your money. We will reform GST and make it simple," Rahul Gandhi said at the fishermen's parliament.

"I want to ask Rahul Gandhi, China had blocked bid even in 2009, when his party was in power. At the height of Doklam crisis, he met Chinese envoy. He met them when he went to Mansorovar. If you are so close to the Chinese establishment, then you should have used your relations to get the resolution passed. He should know foreign policy is not determined by tweeting," Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

"Would the Congress adopt a diff voice even in case of a cruel killer or a global terrorist like Masood Azhar," said minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.

"You all have seen Rahul Gandhi's tweet on Masood Azhar," he said.


"Why is Rahul Gandhi in his celebratory mood when country is pained by China's attitude," he added.

"He must be headlining news in Pakistan," Ravi Shankar Prasad added.

"Our fishermen have been facing a great challenge from Sri Lanka. Many of our colleagues have been arrested and they are yet to see the light of day," a fisherman from Tamil Nadu asked Rahul Gandhi at the fishermen's parliament.

"For India the most important thing is to give voice for the people. In today's government Ambani and Nirav Modi has a lot of voice and they can send the message in 10 secs. They can even whisper. But the farmers small businesses men, fishermen have to make a lot of noise to reach the PM," Rahul Gandhi replied to the fisherman.

"For example when the cyclone come the fishermen who goes and save people. But it's not your job but navy and coastguard's. But when the nation needs you, you are there, but the sad part is when you need India, India is not with you. The impact is borne by you," said Rahul Gandhi.

"You are facing issue with Sri Lanka. Trawlers and new sea rules. I want to give you a big solution. I want to give your own amplifier. So that you need something your voice is heard in Delhi. The solution is your own ministry in Delhi. Somebody has to represent you in Delhi. My commitment to you is that the moment we win in Delhi you will have your own ministry," said Rahul Gandhi.

"A boat has been missing from Karnataka coast for 89 days with 7 fishermen, centre hasn't done anything. PM says he will send Army but hasn't done anything, he claims he has crossed the boarder and bombed terrorist in Pakistan but what about the people from our country," a representative for the fishermen from Karnataka asked Rahul Gandhi in the fishermen's parliament.

"I will certainly raise this issue with PM. But as you said our PM has least regard for our common people," replied Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi promises separate fisheries ministry if Congress is voted to power in Lok Sabha polls, according to news agency PTI

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi says he is not like PM Narendra Modi, "I don't make fake promises," quoted by news agency Press Trust of India.

"We want to honour all those fishermen. We have decided that the best way to honour them is to have a dedicated ministry for fishermen in Delhi," says Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi has reached Thripayar in Kerala, to address the fishermen's parliament.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted criticism on PM Narendra Modi today, over China blocking the initiative to tag Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" by the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday.

In the tweet, Rahul Gandhi said, "Weak Modi is scared of Xi. Not a word comes out of his mouth when China acts against India."