Congress General Secretary UP (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra waves to her party supporters at Assi Ghat, in Varanasi.
7 years ago
Mar 20, 2019
Interacting with the locals at Sindhora Ghat in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday, 19 March, hit out at the BJP and said that the people of the country should decide the kind of government they wish to see in power.
During her three-day visit, Priyanka will cover a distance of 100-km by boat in Ganga from Allahabad to Varanasi — the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hopping from one temple to another.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is in Uttar Pradesh campaigning for the party, is drawing inspiration from her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who taught her to be fearless.
"Sitting in the courtyard of Swaraj Bhawan, the room is visible where my grandmother was born," she tweeted late on Sunday, while spending sometime in the 19th century mansion here. The ancestral home was owned by her great-great grandfather, Motilal Nehru.
The 47-year-old recalled how her grandmother often rocked her to sleep with the bedtime story of Joan of Arc, a peasant girl from medieval France, who believed God chose her to lead France to victory in its Hundred Years War with England. She succeeded and is honoured as the Maid of Orleans.
"I still have those words imprinted in my heart. Become fearless and all will be good," she added.
The Congress leader said she would reach out to people through various means of transportation, including waterways, buses, train and 'padayatra' (on foot).
"River Ganga is a symbol of truth and equality. It is also a symbol of our 'Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb' (cross culture). It does not differentiate among people. Gangaji is the lifeline of Uttar Pradesh and with her support I will reach you," Priyanka said.
As part of her campaign tour, Priyanka will also visit Bhadohi and Mirzapur districts.
Every election is a “picnic” for the Gandhi family, the BJP said while seeking to downplay Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s three-day Uttar Pradesh visit during which she will cover 100 km by boat in the river Ganga.
“For the Gandhi family, every election is a picnic. They come, they see and resort to rhetorical speeches. After the elections are over, they head towards Switzerland or Italy,” senior BJP leader and UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma told PTI.
Loved sharing my journey with these intelligent, dynamic young women from Allahabad University this morning. I met so many talented students today - they deserve a future in which their hopes and dreams can be realised. pic.twitter.com/ZMANhoHsxw
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 18, 2019
Responding to Mayawati’s tweet asking Congress to not “spread confusion” on leaving seven seats for the SP-BSP-RLD alliance in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandi said, “We are fighting the elections alone, we have no issues with anyone, don't want to disturb anyone, our goal is to defeat BJP, their goal also is to defeat BJP.”
People thronged to welcome Priyanka Gandhi at the Mirzapur-Bhadohi border in Uttar Pradesh. The supporters garlanded the UP Congress General Secretary upon her arrival.
Interacting with the locals at Sindhora Ghat in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the BJP and said that the people of the country should decide the kind of government they wish to see in power.
“After Congress government came to power in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, farm loans were waived. But under this government, the industrialists and businessmen are the only ones who are happy,” she said.
She also raked up the issue of unemployment and women safety and asked the people if they wanted a government which takes care of their needs or someone who ignores them.
While addressing a rally in Varanasi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the BJP and said that during 2014 Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi made several promises but none of them have been fulfilled.