Rahul asks UP leaders to stay grounded

  • | Tuesday | 12th February, 2019

“UP ka yuva, kisan, dalit, OBC, garib, sab ke sab UP mein pragati ki sarkar chahte hain, Congress ki sarkar chahte hain. Jo gaon, kasbe, sheher mein ladte hain, unko aagey badhaiye aur phir dekhiye Congress kaise khadi hoti hai. They want a Congress government),” he said.In his brief address during a stopover at Lalbagh, Rahul was at his belligerent best. We need street fighters and we need to give them responsibility).” Asking the party leaders to pull up their bootstraps, Rahul said: “UP hume bahut priya hai. UP se hi Congress ne shuruat ki thi, isliye hume UP mein kamzor nahi reh sakte.

LUCKNOW: The nation’s mostawaited political debut before Lok Sabha polls played out with a flourish on the streets of Lucknow on Monday with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra drawing massive crowds at the roadshow along with brother and Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia. Though Priyanka didn’t speak, her overwhelming presence was enough galvanise the masses and enable the grand old party to put up its biggest show ofstrength in recent years in Uttar Pradesh. The magic of the slogan — Indira is back — seemed to have worked, at least for now.Launching his sister Priyanka in Uttar Pradesh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday, also set the tone for ‘Mission UP’ by setting a deadline to frontline state leaders to catapult Congress to power in UP in 2022 and prevent the party from sinking in the state with which it has an umbilical link.Rahul also had a word of caution and reprimand for the state Congress leadership, when he told them to go back to the grassroots and come out of their comfort zones.Assigning a specific responsibility to Jyotiraditya and Priyanka, he said: “Ye jo high fliers hain, helicopter mein udne wale neta hain, inse kaam nahi chalne wala. Jo gaon, kasbe, sheher mein ladte hain, unko aagey badhaiye aur phir dekhiye Congress kaise khadi hoti hai. (The high fliers are of little use. We need street fighters and we need to give them responsibility).” Asking the party leaders to pull up their bootstraps, Rahul said: “UP hume bahut priya hai. UP se hi Congress ne shuruat ki thi, isliye hume UP mein kamzor nahi reh sakte. (UP is very dear to us. Congress began its journey from UP and we cannot leave it weak).Referring to Priyanka and Jyotiraditya, the twin party heads of east and west UP, he said: “I have sent them to revive the Congress in UP. While they would strive to improve party’s performance in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, they are here to work hard and ensure Congress forms the UP government in 2022.” Rahul then handed over to Priyanka, a model of the Rafale jet amidst cries from the crowd — chowkidar chor hai — and the siblings held it aloft to more cheer.Later, talking to cadres after the five-hour road show, he said everyone in UP felt the need for a Congress government. “UP ka yuva, kisan, dalit, OBC, garib, sab ke sab UP mein pragati ki sarkar chahte hain, Congress ki sarkar chahte hain. Unhone ne sabko try kar liya hai aur sab fail ho chuke hain. Ab ek hi rasta hai. (UP’s youth, farmers, poor, OBC, Dalit everyone wants a government that ensures development. They want a Congress government),” he said.In his brief address during a stopover at Lalbagh, Rahul was at his belligerent best. He said, Congress was not a party to play on the back-foot. “There’s gathbadhan in place here. I have immense respect for Mayawati and Akhilesh, but Congress will fight with vigour for change. Priyanka and Jyotiraditya will play an aggressive role. We will play on the front foot in all states without hesitation or fear.”Saying that India was currently embroiled in a war of ideology, he said: “On one hand is Congress which talks about brotherhood, love and inclusive culture and on the other is BJP, RSS and Narendra Modi combine that divides people, spreads hatred and weakens national integrity.”Rahul said the people of UP and India have seen the outcome of Modiraj. “Everyone knows what Modi has given to the people in five years. Youth are demanding answers on jobs. Farmers are asking why their loan cannot be waived, but Modi has no answer.”As he paused, the crowds cried out — Chowkidar chor hai. Rahul further said that “Anil Ambani was the only one to benefit from the Modi regime.”Continuing his attack on the Rafale deal, Rahul said, “Two days ago, a newspaper report said the chowkidaar undertook parallel negotiations and suspended the negotiations done by defence ministry and Indian Air force. He also did away with the clause on corruption to suit his friend Anil Ambani.”Rahul also mimicked the PM and said, “Earlier, he would flaunt his 56-inch chest when speaking from public platforms, but today, he is defensive and says he doesn’t know Anil Ambani. The hollowness has been exposed. Everyone from students to farmers and youth knows that ‘chowkidar chor hai’.”

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