New Delhi: In her first political rally after being given a key party post, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday took a swipe at the Narendra Modi government in the Prime Minister’s home turf of Gujarat over “unfulfilled” promises and expressing her displeasure over the current situation in the country.
Priyanka, who officially joined the Congress and was made AICC in-charge of Uttar Pradesh (east) on January 23, had her brother and Congress president Rahul Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi by her side as she addressed her first rally in Gandhinagar.
Priyanka said the Modi government did not keep its promise of providing two crore jobs and Rs 15 lakh to every Indian, adding the main issues on which the upcoming Lok Sabha polls would be fought are women’s security, employment and agrarian crisis.
With Lok Sabha elections round the corner, Priyanka asked people to be vigilant, treat their vote as a “weapon”, raise the right issues and take wise decisions.
“Our institutions are being destroyed. Wherever you see, hatred is being spread,” she told the rally near Adalaj village of Gandhinagar district.
“Nothing matters more to us than you and I protect this nation, work for it and move forward together,” the Congress leader said.
The Congress leader said it was in the nature of this country to convert hatred into love and compassion but the present situation was sad and asked people to raise the correct questions during the elections and not fall prey to “meaningless” issues.
“I am saddened by what is happening in our country today. I want you all to be more aware. That is the best sign of patriotism.
“Your vote is your weapon. You are not supposed to harm someone with that weapon. But it will make you stronger,” she added.
“You are going to decide your future in this election. Focus on issues that will make you grow, like how youth will get jobs, how women will feel safe and what should be done for farmers."
She took a veiled dig at the prime minister and asked what happened to the promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh into every citizen’s bank account and pledges about women's safety.
“The people who made tall claims in 2014, ask them about the Rs 15 lakh that was to be deposited into your account. Ask them about the promises they made about women security and about employment."
In 2014, Modi while campaigning for the Lok Sabha election promised to bring back black money from foreign banks to India and deposit Rs 15 lakh from it to every citizen’s account.
Priyanka has held a series of meetings with party workers but was yet to address any public gathering.
Till now, her public presence was limited to the roadshow in Uttar Pradesh she held along with Rahul Gandhi on February 11.
The rally coincided with a meeting of the Congress Working Committee here that was being held in Gujarat after a gap of 58 years.
The previous CWC meeting was held in the state at Bhavnagar in 1961.
(With inputs from PTI)
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