Rahul ignites Cong, says will fight to win
Saturday, 18/01/2014
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NEW DELHI: A combative Rahul Gandhi on Friday outlined the Congress’ strategy to be back in the hunt for a third term in office, saying the Lok Sabha polls in May were tough and “unlike others so far” but not unwinnable.
Makes it clear he is ready to be next PM
In a spirited 45-minute speech before 4,000 cheering delegates at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session at Talkatora stadium, the 43-year-old also made it clear that he would be prime minister in the event of such a victory — drawing smiles from mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The session was an occasion to complete the process of Rahul’s takeover of the party, which began with his anointment as party vice-president a year ago. In contrast with his speech then, when he’d said “power is poison”, Rahul tore into the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party without naming either, offered a programme for the party and its “government in the next five years”. Stepping fully into his role as campaign leader, he exhorted the audience: “We will go into this battle as warriors with our heads held high. We will not look back… go into this battle knowing who we are and what we stand for. We will fight with all we have within us. We will not rest… not lose courage and… not stop till the battle is won.”
Trounced in recent assembly polls and br uised by the relentless onslaught of the BJP and AAP, defeat was writ large on the delegates’ faces when they assembled, but Rahul managed to lift their morale while also reminding them of the tough fight ahead.
“Rahul has diagnosed the disease and given the appropriate treatment,” said Mohammad Shamim Akhtar, AICC member from Bihar.
Earlier, as Sonia announced that the decision on not naming Rahul PM candidate was final and an impatient audience still voiced their demand, Rahul said, “I will tell you what you want to hear. I will say that in my own way.”
At 4pm sharp, he began his speech: “I am your soldier and ready to do anything you want me to do. We will fight and win the elections. In a democratic party like ours, the Congress PM will be elected by MPs.”
Talking about his plans— 50% of Congress chief ministers should be women and half of the room at the next AICC session should also be filled with women — Rahul said 70 million people who have come out of poverty in the 10 years of UPA rule but are vulnerable of falling back into poverty will be the party’s priority. “In the next five years, we will give them a roof over their heads, education for their children.”
In veiled attacks on the BJP and AAP, he said the opposition was good at peddling fake products: “They do excellent marketing. They have shine, glamour, song, dance and everything. They are good at selling combs to the bald. Some new people have come and started giving haircut to the bald.”
In a dig at BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, he said those calling for a “Congress mukt Bharat” are ignorant of India’s history. “It’s a dream that will never be realized. Congress is an idea, not a party. It is a 3,000-year-old idea that cannot be erased and one who made an attempt at it got destroyed in the process. We are the trustees of this idea which is greater than anyone… you, me, the Congress president, prime minister and every single one of us.”
