Priyanka starts campaign in Rae Bareli, takes on Modi

Published on:

16 Apr 2014, 12:00 am

Priyanka Gandhi today kick-started the poll campaign in her mother Sonia Gandhi's constituency Rae Bareli projecting the next lok Sabha polls as a battle between two ideologies and making a veiled attack on Narendra Modi, saying only one man takes all decisions in BJP.

"There is one ideology under which we want to empower common people. All our schemes have been made keeping in mind the objectives that you should be strengthened.

"On the other hand, there is another ideology in which all powers are centred in one person's hand where one man's decision will be applicable to all and all government policies and programmes will be aimed at some selected people. This is a separate ideology," she said, without naming Modi.

Priyanka was addressing villagers on the first day of her campaign during which she will be holding public meetings at 11 villages.

She said the decision which the people are going to take about voting in this lok Sabha elections has two parts.

"While the one is the practical aspect of their and their region's development, the second part is about what will be the future of the nation," she said.

There are two separate ideologies fighting this election, she said recalling that people of Rae Bareli have chosen Indira Gandhi in the past and they have a tradition of living together while the other ideology believes in dividing people.

"This is Indiraji's Karmabhumi...There was never any divide among people in this area and there has been a composite culture here. The ideology of Congress is to unite people and maintain the unity of the country while that of the opposition party is to divide.

"This election is not only about Sonia Gandhi or this region. This election does not only concerns the development of this region, we have to think about the future of the country and I have faith in your wisdom and I know you will chose the right party," Gandhi said.

She also dismissed the challenge from local opposition party candidates in Rae Bareli, saying candidates of other parties are such faces who will perhaps never be seen after the elections are over.

Priyanka also claimed that the area has developed under the representation of Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. She said the wheel of development never stops and "as much you do, so much is the possibility to do more in future".

In her short speech interspersed with anecdotes, she remembered having met an 82-year-old woman who began her studies afresh after working in a self help group.

Priyanka began her campaign from Bhumau guest house. As her motorcade reached Devanandpur, a Dalit hamlet, scores of women lined up on on both sides of the road and she got down for a brief chat with villages.

In the melee, her car hit a scooterist causing minor injuries to the pillion rider. An old woman in a rush to have a glimpse fell on the ground. However, Congress workers soon rushed to save the situation.

She is also likely to address the media at Raahi village. In her speech, Priyanka said Sonia Gandhi's victory is certain from the seat and listed the development works like opening of many institutions in the area during her tenure.