Arrogance led to Cong's downfall, ready to take charge in 2019: Rahul

News Network
September 12, 2017

New Delhi, Sept 12: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that he is ready to take charge of his party in 2019 even as he attacked the BJP government for its decision to demonetise the old currency notes and rising cross-border terrorism. He made these remarks during an interaction with the students of the prestigious University of California, Berkeley, United States.

The theme of the event was 'India@70: Reflections on the Path Forward' during which he shared his ideas about the need to rebuild the Congress in view of future challenges facing the party.

The Congress no 2 also attempted to deflect criticism on dynastic politics, saying this is the problem with most political parties in India and that's how things work. 

“Most of the country runs like this. That’s how India works. Dynastic politics is a problem in all political parties. Akhilesh (Yadav), (MK) Stalin and even (actor) Abhishek Bachchan are dynasts. Even (Prem Kumar) Dhumal’s son (Anurag Thakur) is a dynast, so don’t go just after me,” Rahul said at the event.

Stressing on the need to rebuild the party, the Gandhi scion also admitted that his party may have become susceptible to “arrogance” in 2012, two years before it lost power at the Centre to the BJP.

“Around 2012, a certain arrogance crept into the Congress and they stopped having conversations with the people,” he admitted.

More importantly, the young Congress leader said that he was ready to take charge of the party in 2019 when the next Lok Sabha elections will be held. However, he added that changes in his party will be made through a democratic process of elections. 

The Congress leader also recalled the assassinations of his grandmother Indira Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi and said ''who better than me understands the menace of terrorism.''

“I lost my grandmother and father to violence. If I don’t understand violence, who will? The idea of non-violence is under attack today, yet it is the only idea which can take humanity forward,” he said.

“Hatred, anger and violence can destroy us. The politics of polarisation is very dangerous,” he said.

In a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi alleged that "politics of divide and polarisation is radicalising and isolating people in India."

Gandhi also came down heavily on the BJP regime at the Centre over what he called the ''faulty implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the demonetisation decision which led to a sharp decline in economic growth.

Rahul Gandhi said that the notes ban move has caused damage to agriculture and deep distress among farmers.

He opined that the decision to demonetise the old currency notes was taken without consulting either the Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) or the Parliament, resulting in severe damage across various sectors.

The Congress leader also highlighted the fact that the notes ban move has done no good to the nation as millions of jobs were lost.

Taking on the BJP and the Narendra Modi government, Rahul said the Prime Minister had clamped down on RTI Act which was much more transparent during Congress rule.

While reacting to the current situation in J&K, Rahul Gandhi blamed the BJP government for rising cross-border terrorism in J&K and the deteriorating situation there.

''When we started, terrorism was rampant in Kashmir, when we finished there was peace, we had broken the back of terrorism by 2013, but the BJP-PDP alliance destroyed the good work done by the UPA governments in just 30 days,'' he said.  

Rahul Gandhi also blamed the PM and his party for running a false campaign against him. ''The man who is running the government was spearheading an operation to spread rumours about me being a reluctant politician,'' he said.

However, in a rare praise for PM Narendra Modi, Rahul called him a “good communicator” .

“He is my Prime Minister too. He is a very good communicator. His messaging ability is very subtle and effective. But he does not converse with the people he works with,” he said.

Talking of the current political set-up in India, Rahul said that political reform is much more important than administrative.

Advocating that power should be given back to the MPs, Rahul saID, “Today, there is no power in Parliament. Power is outside the House and with the PMO and ministers. We need to give this power back to the lawmakers.”

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s speech, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said it was the Congress leader’s “frustration” speaking.

Sambit Patra called him "deplorable" for "slamming his own country" while abroad.

The Congress leader is on a two-week visit to the US. Gandhi will interact with global thinkers and political leaders, and address overseas Indians as part of an outreach initiative by his party during his US visit. Rahul Gandhi's grandfather and the country's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had earlier delivered a historic speech at the American university in 1949.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
November 21,2024

palestainetragedy.jpg

Hamas says the Israeli regime’s sole objective lies in “erasing” the entirety of the Palestinian population from across the Palestinian territories.

Khalil al-Hayya, a ranking official with the Gaza Strip-based Palestinian resistance movement, made the remarks to the Palestinian al-Aqsa TV on Wednesday.

“The occupation targets everyone—it strikes hospitals, civil defense, women, children, and the elderly,” he said, adding that the regime sought to “empty Gaza of its residents, and displace the Palestinian people to fulfill its dreams of building a Zionist Jewish state across all of Palestine.”

The remarks came amid the regime’s October 2023-present war of genocide on the coastal sliver that has so far claimed the lives of nearly 44,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

“This unprecedented aggression in modern times evokes scenes from the dark ages of human history, having crossed all red lines and exceeded every expectation of brutality in the modern era,” the Palestinian official lamented.

He also regretted that the regime had added “systematic and dangerous starvation to its aggression, falsely claiming before the world that it allows 250 [aid] trucks into Gaza daily. In reality, the number of trucks is far fewer.”

Hayya, meanwhile, regretted that “scenes of children torn apart, women screaming over their children, and heart-wrenching destruction have failed to stir enough humanity to stop these crimes.”

He decried the United States for vetoing the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions that are aimed at bringing about a potential ceasefire in the war, saying this indicated Washington’s “partnership in the aggression” and a simultaneous siege that the Israeli regime has been enforcing on Gaza.

Addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the official asserted that, despite what the Israeli official is after, Hamas would not hand over the regime’s captives “without [the regime’s] stopping the war.”

He called Netanyahu “the main obstacle” in the way of cessation of the aggression, saying the Israeli premier “blocks any progress for political reasons,” and citing his preventing conclusion of a ceasefire agreement in July.

Hayya also warned that the regime sought to expand the war beyond Gaza, but asserted that its goals are “impossible and will never happen.”

“Today, the enemy exposes its true intentions of extermination and displacement, but it will fail,” he stressed.

“The Palestinian people are resilient and will not surrender, as they believe in their humanitarian and political cause. The enemy and its allies will not succeed in achieving their goals. This steadfast people will endure, and the occupation will not prevail against them.”

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
November 19,2024

mobile.jpg

Gone are the days of chaotic group chats and endless back-and-forth messaging. Say hello to seamless event planning with WhatsApp's new event feature—your ultimate tool for stress-free gatherings!

Why You’ll Love It:

No More Confusion: Create, organize, and share event details in a snap.
Streamlined Coordination: All your event logistics, neatly in one place.
Stay on Track: Friendly reminders for everyone—no excuses for missing out!

Here’s How It Works

Create an Event
Open your group chat, tap the + button, and select Event from the menu.

Add Event Details
Name your event, set the date and time, pin a location, and include a description for extra details.

Send Invites
Tap Send to instantly share the event with your group.

What Happens Next?

Effortless RSVP:
Your friends and family can respond with a single tap:

  • Going
  • Maybe
  • Can’t Go

All-in-One View:
From the date and time to the location and special instructions, every detail is beautifully organized and accessible in one spot.

Gentle Reminders:
WhatsApp sends timely nudges to keep everyone in the loop.

Make Every Occasion Special

Whether it’s a birthday bash, a weekend adventure, a family reunion, or a casual hangout, WhatsApp’s event feature ensures smooth planning and execution.

Pro Tip: Use this tool to turn chaotic planning into pure convenience.

So, what are you waiting for? Open WhatsApp, give it a try, and watch your gatherings transform from stressful to simple! 

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
November 14,2024

srirang.jpg

Bengaluru: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi led union government has requested the Karnataka High Court to direct the Mandya district administration and the state government to clear a madrasa operating within the premises of the historic Jama Masjid in Srirangapatna.

The Waqf Board, opposing this move, has claimed the mosque as its property and defended the right to conduct madrasa activities there.

The matter was brought before a division bench headed by Chief Justice N V Anjaria following a public interest litigation filed by a person named Abhishek Gowda from Kabbalu village in Kanakapura taluk. The petition alleged “unauthorised madrasa activities” within the mosque.

Representing the Central government, Additional Solicitor General of India for High Court of Karnataka, K Arvind Kamath argued that the Jama Masjid was designated as a protected monument in 1951, yet unauthorised madrasa operations continue there.

He noted that concerns over potential law and order issues have so far prevented any intervention. Kamath urged the court to direct the Mandya district administration to take action and vacate the madrasa from the mosque.

In defence, lawyers for the state government and the Waqf Board contested this request, stating that the Waqf Board had been recognised as the owner of the property since 1963 and, thus, conducting madrasa activities there is lawful.

After hearing both sides, the bench adjourned the case for further arguments, scheduling the next hearing for November 20.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.