A day after criticising the BJP over the attack on her husband, Robert Vadra, Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi Vadra indirectly hit out at BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi by asking the people if it is better to give all the power to just one person or the people should have the power.
“If the entire power is concentrated in the hands of one person, is it a good thingIJ Or, should the people have powerIJ,’’ Priyanka asked people, without taking any names, in Rae Bareli while campaigning in the constituency for Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
“People should have the power. Nowadays, if you watch TV, you see arrogant speeches, abuses and personal attacks. This is not correct politics. They do such things to mislead people. There should be discussions about the matters related to people’s issues. The debates must be on what are the grievances of the people and how can one tackle it,” said Priyanka.
Congress president’s daughter further took on Narendra Modi by raking up the “snoopgate” controversy surrounding him and said leaders who indulge in wrong acts against women should be “thrown out”. She told a gathering of women to make political leaders answerable and ask, “If you are talking about empowering us (women), tell us how will you do that. If you are talking about empowering us (women), then do not listen to our phone conversations behind closed doors.” Even though she did not name Modi, the reference was clearly to the Gujarat Chief Minister who has been surrounded by a controversy over snooping of a young woman in the State allegedly at his behest.
In a suggestive remark, Priyanka told the gathering, “You must be knowing (about the controversy). Isn’t itIJ... If there are such political leaders who indulge in wrong acts against women, they should be thrown out of parties.” She further added that the leaders should be asked what they are doing to empower women.
“When there is talk about women’s empowerment, you must have seen, a lot of leaders come and speak on the issue. It is always about the role of a woman as mother, sister, daughter or wife. This is fine. I too am a mother, sister, daughter and wife. But that is not our astitva (existence). We are nari (women) and that is our existence,” she said.
So you must ask them what their concrete plans for women empowerment is. You have experienced here how women benefited through RGMVP and Self Help Group. So you must ask the Opposition too what they would do for you. We need such discussions here, not meaningless talks,’’ she said.
Reminding the people about the power of votes, Priyanka said, “Right to vote is your biggest strength. Never ever waste it. The entire power is with you. If a leader is standing in front of you and gives speeches, it is because of you. You create leaders. Therefore it is the people to decide which party is good for you and who can serve you better. The leaders who talk loud on corruption must tell you about their specific plans to fight that menace’’.
Priyanka has started campaigning for her mother from Tuesday and she is expected to continue till April 26. Polling in Rae Bareli is slated on April 30.