Rahul Gandhi’s emotional speech conquers the hearts of partymen

Newly appointed Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi struck an emotional chord with his supporters and senior party leaders when he explained how he went through the pain and tribulation of seeing his childhood badminton partners kill his grandmother Indira Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi said as a "little boy", he had learnt to play badminton at then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's residence with two securitymen. He liked to shuffle feet in badminton courts in search of balance in the complicated world. "They were my friends. Then one day, they killed my grandmother and took way the balance in my life," he said.

Rahul Gandhi's maiden address drifted from hard-nosed idealism to moving sentimentalism, a combination that had the auditorium in splits and roars, only to bring it to tears to conclude the session. The young leader also disclosed his mother's mixed feelings at his elevation on Saturday, at once happy at having persuaded the hesitant son to take the big leap but possibly terrified by what she had suffered.

"Last night, my mother came to my room and she cried. Why did she cry? She cried because she understands that the power so many people seek its actually a poison she can see it," he said, urging the leaders that power was best not chased for kicks but used to empower the weak.

The delivery and narrative was unbridled sentimentalism melted the Indians and the Congressmen present. He sought to remove the doubts about his persisting 'reluctant prince' image by saying there was no turning back after taking the big leap. "I like to end again by saying that for me the Congress party is now my life," said Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi also stressed for the need to respond to aspirations of young, impatient India seeking a voice in "nation's future". He said the solution lay in changing the system rather than improvising it. He mocking of the fake champions fostered by political process evoked loud guffaws. "People who are corrupt stand up and talk about eradicating corruption... and people who disrespect women everyday of their life... talk about women's rights," he said.

Rahul Gandhi strikes emotional chord in his first speech as Congress VP

Rahul Gandhi, in his maiden speech as Congress Vice President, struck an emotional note in calling for a transformation of the existing system. He said his mother came to his room in the night after naming him party vice-president and wept.

“She cried because she understands that power is actually a poison,” he said. “She could see what it could do to people around... We should not chase power for attributes of power. We should only see it to empower the voices,” the young Congress MP.

The two-day Congress’ chintan shivir attended by some 350 party leaders and the larger session on Sunday were to take stock of challenges before the party and prepare it for the electoral tests in the coming months.

Earlier, Sonia Gandhi called on the party rank and file to work hard and close ranks ahead of the forthcoming elections. “There is no reason that we should not return to power if Congress men work hard in unity,” Sonia Gandhi said on the final day of the party’s conclave.

Sonia Gandhi added that she will personally ensure the passage of legislation to provide 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Remembering the Delhi gang-rape victim, Sonia Gandhi, who devoted the initial part of her speech to gender issues, said her death “will not go in vain”.

The Jaipur declaration, released after the meeting, emphasized the need for repositioning and reorganizing the party based on ideology and issues in preparation for the national election. “The Congress recognizes that there is a new aspiration for advancement among the people, especially among the youth and the middle class,” the declaration said.

“The Congress pledges to speak for both the young middle-class India and the young deprived India. The party will be responsive to the new aspirations of the youth and will offer credible policies and programmes for them especially job creating programmes,” it said.

Rahul Gandhi kick-starts his campaign in Himachal

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi joined the Congress campaign in the poll bound state of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday accused the BJP of creating obstructions for the legislations benefiting the people at large.  Rahul Gandhi also argued that only the Congress is serious to fight corruption. He addressed public rallies in Solan, Kangra and Keylong. The Congress leader said while the union government has been sending money through central schemes, the state government has created a situation where a very small portion reaches its intended beneficiaries.

Taking on the BJP for its "anti-tribal" policies, Rahul Gandhi said that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was responsible for getting tribal status for the residents of Lahaul and Spiti and the Congress had made every effort to ensure the welfare of the tribal community in the state and the country.

"It was only after this that the tribal sub-plan started. But what is the BJP trying to do? They are trying to bring this down further. They are reducing it from 9 per cent to 8.5 per cent," Rahul Gandhi said attacking the BJP government. "We run a government that works for the welfare of poor, a government that provides schemes like MNREGA while they run a government for the rich," he said, adding, "We talk about joining, while they talk about breaking".

In Kangra, Rahul Gandhi said BJP was opposed to the idea of a government working for welfare of the 'aam admi' and that is why it did not allow Parliament to function. "Disruption of the Parliament did not hurt the BJP. It hurt the common people," he said. Rahul Gandhi urged the voters to support Congress for the benefit of the people and development of the state.

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Rahul Gandhi takes up big responsibility; will lead Congress panel for 2014 poll

Signaling his larger role in the party, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has been appointed the head of the Congress Coordination panel for 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

The other members in the committee headed by Rahul Gandhi are Ahmed Patel, Janardan Dwivedi, Digvijay Singh, Madhusudan Mistry and Jairam Ramesh. The Congress also will be setting up of three Sub-Groups, including one on the key issue of pre-poll alliances, which will be headed by senior leader A K Antony.

"As announced by Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the Sanvad Baithak at Surajkund, she has constituted an Election Coordination Committee and three Sub-Groups keeping in view the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2014", Dwivedi, the AICC Media Department Chairperson, informed.

The move to make 42-year-old Rahul Gandhi head of the Election Coordination Committee shows that he is going to take up more responsibilities in the party ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha poll. Congress hopes that it can perform well under the charming and energetic leadership of a young politician like Rahul
Gandhi who enjoys tremendous mass appeal.

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Rahul Gandhi to head the Congress panel for the 2014 polls

Congress General Secretary and Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi has been appointed as the chairman of the party’s six-member coordination committee for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

The move is a follow-up of the Congress meet at Surajkund recently and is accompanied by the setting up of three other sub-groups. The others on the committee are Ahmed Patel, Janardan Dwivedi, Digvijay Singh, Madhusudan Mistry and Jairam Ramesh.

The three other sub-groups also indicate the areas of concern for the party with an eye on the preparations for the elections. These include pre-poll alliances, preparation of manifesto and the government’s programme implementation, as well as communications and publicity.

The move by the Congress clearly indicates that Rahul Gandhi is surely going to have an upper hand in the party’s decision. As a young leader and with a potential mass appeal, Rahul Gandhi can definitely take his party to new heights with the blessing of his mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

This article is posted by pressbrief.in