Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressed her first political rally after formally joining the Congress.
Two days after the Election Commission announced the dates for the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party held a high-level strategy meeting in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home turf Gujarat. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met to kick-start its campaign for the Lok Sabha elections as well as have a brainstorming session in Ahmedabad, in order to give a final shape to the party's election strategy. The meeting started with a two-minute silence in memory of the victims of Pulwama terror attack. Congress leaders including party chief Rahul Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among the party leaders attending the meeting. According to sources, Ms Gandhi in her address lashed out at the PM Modi government for "politicising" issues related to national interest. She also called for highlighting the achievements of the previous UPA government along with emphasising on the need to move forward in providing a new vision for the country.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who also addressed the meeting, talked about the agrarian crisis, hampered industrial growth and unemployment under the present regime at the Centre.
The top Congress leadership paid their respects to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. Priyanka Gandhi also addressed her first public rally today after joining the Congress party.
Here are the highlights on the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Gujarat:
Patidar leader Hardik Patel joined Congress party today in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi.
We have decided in 2019, we will do something historic. If they can give all the money to rich, we can give money to the poor. I want to assure everyone, we will form the government in 2019 and will implement minimum income guarantee: Rahul Gandhi tells his audience in Gandhinagar
PM Modi announced notes ban without any discussion. And in one day he broke the spine, the entrepreneurial spirit of Gujarat. He made crores of people jobless, and he did so while laughing. And he said he was doing to wipe out black money. Did you see any one with black money in those lines? It was the common people, mothers and mazdoors: Rahul Gandhi said in Gujarat today, attacking PM Modi over his demonetisation announcement
PM Modi can forgive Rs 3.5 lakh crore debt of 15 individuals but cannot waive farmers' loans. Arun Jaitley says it is not our policy. Farmers pay insurance premium and only those 15 people benefit: Rahul Gandhi speaks at Gandhinagar
We chose Gujarat because India is witnessing a fight between two ideologies and you'll find both of them here. On one side, there is Gandhi ji, who gave everything he had to make this country what it is today. Mahatma Gandhi and Gujarat has made this country. And today there other powers trying to weaken the country: Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat's Gandhinagar
At the very beginning of his speech in Gandhinagar, Congress President Rahul Gandhi apologised to his audience for the delay in the programme of the party's public rally.
The biggest issue is unemployment which is at a 45-year-high. PM Modi talks of Make In India, Start Up India but truth is the young people are running pillar to post trying to find jobs: Rahul Gandhi at Gandhinagar
This country is made on the foundations of love, harmony and brotherhood. Today whatever is happening in the country is very sad: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Gujarat's Gandhinagar
Those who say big things and promise you the moon. Ask them where are the 2 crore jobs they promised? Ask them where are the 15 lakhs? Ask them how safe are women today? In the next two months, they will raise all kinds of issues. Your awareness will decide what you get: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Jan Sankalp Rally in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
There is no bigger nationalism than being aware. Your awareness is a weapon, your vote is a weapon. It is a weapon that will not hurt or harm any one. It is a weapon that will strengthen you: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Gujarat
"Congress is clear that the constitutional rights are constantly being violated. There are attempts to project a different picture of India as against the ideals on which the constitution was formed," Congress leader Anand Sharma said to the media after the meeting
"This battle will be won," tweets Rahul Gandhi after Congress Working Committee meeting. Read
here
"It is after 1961, a gap of 58 years, that Gujarat is hosting a meeting of the CWC. It is also being held to commemorate the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi beginning a new chapter in India's Independence struggle by launching the 'Salt Satyagraha' to Dandi on March 12, 1930," Congress' state in-charge Rajeev Satav told reporters on Monday.
The CWC meeting was postponed after the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 and the subsequent air strikes by India on a terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot.
Hardik Patel, Patidar quota agitation leader from Gujarat, will join Congress today during the party's Working Committee meet. Read
here