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.
Jan 17, 2014 16:52 (IST)
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.
Jan 17, 2014 16:09 (IST)
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
Quotable quotes from key Congress meet A 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.
Jan 17, 2014 14:58 (IST)
Don't get swayed by tall claims of some parties: PM Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed to people not to get swayed by the "tall claims" of some opposition parties, which he said were not easy to fulfill.
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Jan 17, 2014 14:57 (IST)
Half of Congress candidates must be below 35: Chidambaram Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday said he was putting forth a "radical idea" that the Congress should field 272 candidates below the age of 35 in the Lok Sabha polls.
Jan 17, 2014 14:32 (IST)
Rahul Gandhi to address Congress meeting shortly.
Jan 17, 2014 13:58 (IST)
Won't apologise for inviting Modi to sell tea: Mani Shankar Aiyar Congress's Mani Shankar Aiyar refused to apologise today for stating that Narendra Modi will never be Prime Minister, but is welcome to sell tea at the Congress conclave in Delhi that is devoting today to strategising for the national election.
Jan 17, 2014 13:05 (IST)
Full text of Sonia Gandhi's speech at Congress meeting A gigantic Congress meet in Delhi today tried to shake off the atmosphere of an anti-climax as senior party leaders including Congress president Sonia Gandhi took the stage.
Jan 17, 2014 12:40 (IST)
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
Jan 17, 2014 12:19 (IST)
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to address crucial Congress meeting at 12:30 pm
Jan 17, 2014 11:46 (IST)
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
Jan 17, 2014 11:38 (IST)
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
Jan 17, 2014 11:22 (IST)
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."
Jan 17, 2014 11:20 (IST)
After Sonia Gandhi's speech, Congress workers raise slogans demanding Rahul Gandhi's nomination
Jan 17, 2014 10:51 (IST)
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
Jan 17, 2014 10:46 (IST)
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.
Jan 17, 2014 10:28 (IST)
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.
Jan 17, 2014 10:23 (IST)
"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.
Jan 17, 2014 10:08 (IST)
Congress President Sonia Gandhi to address All India Congress Committee (AICC) meet shortly.