Priyanka, Scindia given target to ensure Congress forms govt in UP: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress leader said he has given his sister Priyanka Gandhi, newly-entrusted with eastern Uttar Pradesh, the target of ensuring that the party came to power in the upcoming elections. On Wednesday, Priyanka formally entered into active politics with Rahul appointing her as AICC in-charge of East UP. Jyotiraditya Scindia, on the other hand, was given in-charge of West UP.

“Priyanka and Scindia have been given a target. That is to form a Congress government in Uttar Pradesh in the next election by defeating and wiping out the BJP,” Rahul said.

“Unlike PM Modi, I do not talk of a ‘BJP-mukt Bharat’ but speak with respect,” he added, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to “free” India of the Congress.

Whether it is Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh or Tamil Nadu, everywhere the Congress will fight with full might on the front foot, and you will see that after the Vidhan Sabha elections there will be a Congress government in the state,” he said.

Reiterating the slogan “Gali gali mein shor hai, chowkidar chor hai”, the Congress chief slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused him of waiving the loans of industrialists. “Where is the ‘achche din’ promised?” he asked. He added, “We have delivered the promise of loan waiver.”

Criticising the government over the Rafale deal, he said, “The chowkidar proved to be a thief,” he added.

Besides this, Rahul also questioned the “hurry” in removing former CBI chief Alok Verma. He also termed demonetisation as the biggest scam.

Earlier in the day, the Congress leader offered prayers at a local Shiva temple after meeting party workers at a guesthouse. While addressing a gathering in Salon area, he termed himself, his sister and mother Sonia Gandhi as “soldiers” for the people of the constituency.

Rahul also reiterated that he has full respect for leaders like Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav. The SP and the BSP recently forged an alliance for UP in the coming Lok Sabha polls, keeping the Congress out of the pact.

Alleging that PM Modi had not kept his poll promise on creating jobs and that the BJP had slowed development in his constituency, Rahul said, “You will get your food park back, not 99 per cent but 101 per cent. All development projects that have been stalled by Narendra Modi and Yogiji to hurt you will be back.”

“The BJP people are spreading hatred in the name of religion, caste and region. They get people of UP and Bihar thrown out of Gujarat, get Hindus and Muslims fight each other,’” he added.

“Narendra Modi means hatred, he is the symbol of hatred,” he said. “We will remove Modi in 2019 and no one can stop this.”

The Congress leader is scheduled to visit Odisha to attend an event on Friday.

(With PTI inputs)