Rahul Gandhi speaks on 2019, BSP-alliance, leadership-qualities and more
What's the story
At the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2018, Congress President Rahul Gandhi touched upon several topics, including his temple visits, the trolling, his expectations from 2019 general elections and what makes him different from mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Gandhi also attacked BJP over demonetization, GST, and said he had no reason to believe the alliance with BSP won't work out in 2019. Here's more.
Slamming BJP
Attacking BJP, RaGa says government is on war with people
Gandhi, the first speaker of the event, claimed the government has launched a war on people. "We must re-imagine that India where the mind is without fear," he added. About the economy, Gandhi said demonetization wiped out 2% of the GDP. "We had a different concept of the GST too, but the government did not listen to us," Gandhi said.
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About temple-visits, Gandhi says he has always been going there
"I have been going to temples, gurudwaras, mosques for years. Suddenly it has become publicized--I guess BJP doesn't like it. It infuriates them. Maybe BJP feels only they can go to temples," Gandhi said.
BJP's policies
Further, Gandhi slammed RSS and BJP for problems in country
Expressing his disdain for RSS, Gandhi then said the organization wanted to take over all the institutions, and this was never Congress's idea. "The ideological center that is fighting the BJP can only be the Congress," he said. About problems crippling the nation, Gandhi said jobs were lacking. He promised to work for small and medium businesses, which he claimed the government was attacking.
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If voted to power, Gandhi tells what will he do
When asked about the three things he will do if voted to power, Gandhi said, "I will strengthen the small and medium enterprise. I will make farmers feel they are important. I will build a low cost-high quality medical and education infrastructure."
Road ahead
Despite Mayawati's decision, Gandhi is confident of an alliance
Gandhi also spoke about 2019 and said Congress will get 'a lot' of seats in general elections. He also had faith that the alliance with BSP will work out. Notably, BSP chief Mayawati dumped Congress ahead of Assembly elections, saying past mistakes haven't taught them anything. About how he was different from mother Sonia, Gandhi said, "She goes on feeling, I go on thinking."
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Attacks don't agitate me, says Gandhi
Gandhi, who is constantly attacked for a lot of reasons, said he isn't affected by it. He said, "I have a thinking that everybody has a perspective about the world. I don't get agitated when I am criticized or attacked".
Twitter Post
Gandhi doesn't have anyone special in his life
I have my mother, my sister, my friends. I have no one special person in my life: @INCIndia president @RahulGandhi at #HTLS2018 #HTLS
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) October 5, 2018
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