New Delhi:
Rahul Gandhi is the only man on stage in a kurta as he addresses top industrialists at a gathering of the Confederation of Indian Industry.
He's been filmed in sleepovers at Dalit homes and riding pillion on a motorcycle to support protesting farmers. But in nine years of political life, Rahul Gandhi, the Vice President of the party that leads the ruling coalition has not addressed corporate India, not even amid escalating concerns about a sluggish economy.
Mr Gandhi will take questions from the audience after his speech. The Prime Minister spoke to CII yesterday and asked India Inc to have faith in his government's commitment to reversing the economic slowdown.
The Congress has dismissed suggestions that today's appearance is an attempt to counter Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, whose industry-friendly policies have won him large support and investment from some of India's biggest corporate houses.
Neither Mr Gandhi nor Mr Modi have been named by their parties as the prime ministerial candidate for the national election, which is scheduled for next year. But already it is accepted that the campaigns will see them pitted against each other.
Mr Gandhi was formally anointed Congress Vice-President in January, ensuring that only his mother, Sonia Gandhi, who heads the party is more senior to him. He has faced criticism for failing to share his position on national issues.
Last year, he led his party in the campaign for Uttar Pradesh, but the Congress placed a poor fourth.
In October last year, Mr Gandhi took business leaders like Ratan Tata to Jammu and Kashmir to address the youth on unemployment. That remains his one public interaction with India Inc.
He's been filmed in sleepovers at Dalit homes and riding pillion on a motorcycle to support protesting farmers. But in nine years of political life, Rahul Gandhi, the Vice President of the party that leads the ruling coalition has not addressed corporate India, not even amid escalating concerns about a sluggish economy.
Mr Gandhi will take questions from the audience after his speech. The Prime Minister spoke to CII yesterday and asked India Inc to have faith in his government's commitment to reversing the economic slowdown.
The Congress has dismissed suggestions that today's appearance is an attempt to counter Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, whose industry-friendly policies have won him large support and investment from some of India's biggest corporate houses.
Neither Mr Gandhi nor Mr Modi have been named by their parties as the prime ministerial candidate for the national election, which is scheduled for next year. But already it is accepted that the campaigns will see them pitted against each other.
Mr Gandhi was formally anointed Congress Vice-President in January, ensuring that only his mother, Sonia Gandhi, who heads the party is more senior to him. He has faced criticism for failing to share his position on national issues.
Last year, he led his party in the campaign for Uttar Pradesh, but the Congress placed a poor fourth.
In October last year, Mr Gandhi took business leaders like Ratan Tata to Jammu and Kashmir to address the youth on unemployment. That remains his one public interaction with India Inc.
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