Sonia Gandhi at Roorkee, Uttarakhand: Narendra Modi thinks he is already sitting on the throne

Congress President and UPA chairperson attended an election rally at Roorkee, Uttarakhand on Sunday. While speaking on the occasion she lashed out at BJP's main face Narendra Modi. "He thinks as if results have come out and he is already sitting on the throne," said Sonia Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi interacts with ex-servicemen in Dehradun

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi interacts with ex-servicemen in Dehradun (Uttarakhand). the ex servicemen thanked Rahul Gandhi for UPA govt's decision to approve one rank- one pension policy.

Rahul Gandhi at Dehradun in Uttarakhand attacks BJP, Part 02

Dehradun: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday kick-started his party's campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls by addressing a mammoth party rally in Dehradun. While speaking on the occasion, he took on the BJP for its divisive politics and anti-people policies. "The opposition (BJP) is not serious about people's pain. They indulge in divisive tactics. While Congress wants to empower people, the opposition wants to grab people's rights. Their aim is just to grab power by any means", said Rahul Gandhi and also took a dig indirectly at BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi by commenting "They think that if they get PM post, all problems will be solved

Rahul Gandhi at Dehradun in Uttarakhand attacks BJP, Part 01

Dehradun: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday kick-started his party's campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls by addressing a mammoth party rally in Dehradun. While speaking on the occasion, he took on the BJP for its divisive politics and anti-people policies. "The opposition (BJP) is not serious about people's pain. They indulge in divisive tactics. While Congress wants to empower people, the opposition wants to grab people's rights. Their aim is just to grab power by any means", said Rahul Gandhi and also took a dig indirectly at BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi by commenting "They think that if they get PM post, all problems will be solved".

Rahul Gandhi addresses Congress rally in Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Dehradun: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday kick-started his party’s campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls by addressing a mammoth party rally in Dehradun. While speaking on the occasion, he took on the BJP for its divisive politics and anti-people policies. “The opposition (BJP) is not serious about people’s pain. They indulge in divisive tactics. While Congress wants to empower people, the opposition wants to grab people’s rights. Their aim is just to grab power by any means”, said Rahul Gandhi and also took a dig indirectly at BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi by commenting “They think that if they get PM post, all problems will be solved”.

Rahul Gandhi visits flood-hit Uttarakhand

New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday arrived in flood-hit Uttarakhand, where several people were killed and thousands still stranded, to review the rescue operations.

On Monday, Rahul Gandhi along with his mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi had flagged off trucks carrying relief materials to calamity-hit Uttarakhand. Trucks carried food articles, medicines, clothes and blankets for the flood-affected people.

Last week, BJP had questioned why RahulGandhi did not visit flood-hit Uttarakhand. But the fact is that party's top leadership, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, were monitoring the rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit hill state.

"It should not matter who has gone (to flood-hit areas) and who has not. The focus should be on rescue and relief operations. Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party chief Sonia Gandhi are monitoring the situation. VIP visits hamper relief operations. Sonia Gandhi has not visited Uttarakhand keeping this in mind. She will visit as soon as the situation improves," Congress spokesperson Raj Babbar had told reporters when asked about Rahul Gandhi's absence. The Government and the Congress party are busy battling the massive tragedy.

On June 19, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas of Uttarakhand on last Wednesday.  Congress President had directed all party MPs and MLAs to donate their one month salary for relief work in the flood-ravaged Uttarakhand. She had also directed all party MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to give Rs 10 lakh each from their MPLAD fund for carrying out relief work there.

The Congress party had also set up a PCC control room at Dehradun to accelerate the relief work.

Uttarakhand: Sonia Gandhi flags off trucks carrying relief materials for flood-victims

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Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday flagged off trucks carrying relief materials for Uttarakhand flood victims. Trucks left from the party headquarters in New Delhi. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also was present during the occasion.

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi flag off relief material for U'Khand floods victims

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday has flagged off trucks carrying relief materials for Uttarakhand flood victims from New Delhi. Trucks left from the party headquarters in New Delhi. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also was present during the occasion.

Sonia Gandhi flags off relief material for Uttarakhand floods victims

New Delhi: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday has flagged off trucks carrying relief materials for Uttarakhand flood victims. Trucks left from the party headquarters in New Delhi. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also was present during the occasion.

Top Congress leaders were present at the AICC headquarters where Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi flagged off 24 truckloads of relief supplies in addition to the 125 trucks already sent to Dehradun. Besides these two, leaders present on the occasion included Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Road Transport Minister Oscar Fernandes and, political secretary to Congress President Ahmed Patel, AICC General Secretaries Ambika Soni and Ajay Maken.

Sonia Gandhi had on June 19 along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conducted an aerial survey of rain-ravaged areas in Uttarkhand where flash floods have claimed over a thousand lives. So far, 80,000 people have been evacuated but more than 15,000 are still stranded across the state.

Congress President had on Friday directed all party MPs and MLAs to donate their one month salary for relief work in the flood-ravaged Uttarakhand as the magnitude of the flash flood tragedy continued to unfold taking the death toll in the rain fury to 1,000.

She  had also directed all party MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to give Rs 10 lakh each from their MPLAD fund for carrying out relief work there," party's communication department in-charge Ajay Maken had told. Congress has currently 203 members in the Lok Sabha and 72 in Rajya Sabha.

The party had also set up a PCC control room at Dehradun to accelerate the relief work. AICC Secretary Sanjay Kapoor and the party's wing Seva Dal's chief Mahendra Joshi have been sent to Dehradun to monitor the work.

Uttarakhand flood: Sonia Gandhi urges Congress MPs, MLAs donate one month’s salary

New Delhi: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday directed all the party Member of Parliaments (MP) and Member of Legislative Assemblies (MLA) to donate one month’s salary for the victims of the Uttarakhand flash flood.

The death toll in the worst tragedy has gone up to 207 while thousands are still reported missing. According to Ajay Maken, the Congress General Secretary and newly appointed head of Congress’ communication department, Sonia Gandhi has also urged party MPs give Rs 10 lakhs each from their Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund.

The Congress party has 275 MPs including 203 in the Lok Sabha and 72 in the Rajya Sabha. There are also two nominated members in the Lok Sabha and 11 in the Rajya Sabha — all nominated by the Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance government.

The members of parliament receive Rs. 50,000 as basic salary per month. This would raise Rs 13.75 million if the nominated members respond to the appeal. Also, Rs275 million will be available through the MLPADS fund for reconstruction of the devastated state.

All MPs are entitled to recommend works worth Rs 50 million per year from MPLADS. While Lok Sabha members are entitled to spend the money in their constituency, Rajya Sabha members can recommend works worth the same amount per year in one or more districts of the state from which they are elected.

Sonia Gandhi, along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had taken an aerial survey of the devastated state of Uttarakhand following which the Union Government initiated several measures to rescue locals and tourists who are believed to be trapped and locate those missing. The army has already launched the rescue mission.

Prime Minister has also appealed to all citizens to liberally donate to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. All such donations are exempted from tax. Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna has also issued a similar appeal for donations to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

According to Maken, a control room has been established at the Dehradun-based headquarters of the Congress party to accelerate the relief work being done on behalf of the party.

Various state units of the Congress party have been asked to collect and send relief material to Uttarakhand on a priority basis.

Rahul Gandhi visits Dehradun to interact with Congress workers

On the international Women's day on March 8, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited Dehradun to boost the Congress workers in the state of Uttarakhand.

Rahul Gandhi talks about democratic election process in Youth Congress and NSUI

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is interacting with the media in Uttarakhand. We are in the process of implementing democratic measures in the elections in both Youth Congress and NSUI informed Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi said that he could get good knowledge about proper internal democratic elections from Kerala, and he is trying to implement those across the country.

Rahul Gandhi: When we are talking youth, we are talking about 70% of our population

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while interacting with the media in Uttarakhand said that the youth constitutes 70% of the population in the country. He was responding to a question whether Congress would allow more young candidates to contest in the coming elections.

Rahul Gandhi: My goal is to empower the YC and NSUI

My goal is to ensure that more and more youngsters enter politics through Youth Congress and NSUI and I fully concentrate on these jobs. I do not have any other target as of now, said Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while talking to the media persons in Uttarakhand.

Rahul Gandhi: We should promote youth through democratic process

If we promote the youth through democratic processes, automatically he can grow more and can prove his ability for leadership. This is the way to promote more youngsters to leadership, said Rahul Gandhi. The Congress General Secretary was interacting with the media in Uttarakhand.

Rahul Gandhi talks about the Indians who were held captive by Somalian pirates

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is talking to the presspersons in Uttarakhand. He replied to various questions including the democratic process in the Youth Congress and NSUI. He also said that IUndia government is taking measures to get the 18 Indian freed from the captivity of Somalian pirates.

I see myself as a soldier of Congress and not a yuvraj

I do not like some people call me yuvraj of Congress, said Rahul Gandhi categorically while interacting with the press persons in Uttarakhand. I consider myself as a soldier of Youth Congress, NSUI and the Congress party. And I am totally against these term yuvraj, added Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi: My task is to handle the affairs of YC and NSUI only

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is addressing a press conference in Uttarakhand. “I am a General Secretary of the Congress in charge of Youth Congress and NSUI. These two are only coming under my jurisdiction and I am not handling any other role” said Rahul Gandhi. My focus is only these two out fits and nothing beyond that, he added.

Rahul Gandhi talks about the global economic crisis

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is talking to the media in Uttarakhand. “We are passing through a crisis, which is certainly a short term. But the present crisis can be a good challenge to big Asian countries and countries like India and China can be benefited”, added Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi: Nuclear power is the fuel of the future

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is interacting with the media in Uttarakhand. He responded to various questions including the nuclear treaty with the US. “We should fix our priorities. According to me we should focus on energy, education and infrastructure, said the Congress leader”. Nuclear power is the fuel of the future. We should concentrate to address the issues in these fields and find out solutions to overcome the issues and we should surge ahead, added Rahul Gandhi.