<p>Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh will be the Congress party&#39;s chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections in the state, the party&#39;s vice-president Rahul Gandhi announced on Saturday.</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi, who was addressing a rally in the northern hill state&#39;s Mandi district, said he was confident that Virbhadra Singh would be elected chief minister of Himachal Pradesh for the seventh time since he had done a lot of work for the development of the state.</p>

<p>The Congress vice-president added that Virbhadra Singh would have the full backing of the party.</p>

<p>The Assembly elections in the state are likely to be held before the end of the year.</p>

<p>Virbhadra Singh is currently facing stiff opposition within the party from Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhwinder Sukhu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Virbhadra Singh is facing a CBI probe in a disproportionate assets case against him.</p>


Rahul Gandhi, who was addressing a rally in the northern hill state's Mandi district, said he was confident that Virbhadra Singh would be elected chief minister of Himachal Pradesh for the seventh time

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh will be the Congress party's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections in the state, the party's vice-president Rahul Gandhi announced on Saturday. Rahul Gandhi, who was addressing a rally in the northern hill state's Mandi district, said he was confident that Virbhadra Singh would be elected chief minister of Himachal Pradesh for the seventh time since he had done a lot of work for the development of the state. The Congress vice-president added that Virbhadra Singh would have the full backing of the party. The Assembly elections in the state are likely to be held before the end of the year. Virbhadra Singh is currently facing stiff opposition within the party from Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhwinder Sukhu. Virbhadra Singh is facing a CBI probe in a disproportionate assets case against him.

Virbhadra Singh to be chief ministerial candidate for Himachal Pradesh assembly elections: Rahul Gandhi

<p>BJP President Amit Shah said Monday that Rahul Gandhi should wear Gujarati spectacles -- and not Italian ones -- then he will see development in Gujarat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also added that if Rahul dreams of Gujarat, then he should visit Porbandar -- and not Italy.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Agar Rahul ko Gujarat ke sapne aate hain toh unko pura karne ke liye Italy nahi, Porbandar aana padega: Amit Shah in Porbandar <a href="https://t.co/5IY1gKPBGP">pic.twitter.com/5IY1gKPBGP</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/914771768249692160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Agar Rahul ko Gujarat ke sapne aate hain toh unko pura karne ke liye Italy nahi, Porbandar aana padega: Amit Shah in Porbandar <a href="https://t.co/5IY1gKPBGP">pic.twitter.com/5IY1gKPBGP</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/914771768249692160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Rahul&#39;s mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi was born Italian; she is now an Indian citizen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rahul was recently in Gujarat, which is soon going to the polls this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-government-is-running-from-a-remote-control-rahul-gandhi-20680" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Gujarat government on remote control: Rahul Gandhi </a></p>

<p>Shah was speaking in Porbandar, Gujarat.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>Shah had on Sunday flagged off the Gujarat Gaurav Yatra -- to highlight development in the state under two decades of BJP rule -- from Karamsad, which is where Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is from.</p>


He also added that if Rahul dreams of Gujarat, then he should visit Porbandar -- and not Italy.?

BJP President Amit Shah said Monday that Rahul Gandhi should wear Gujarati spectacles -- and not Italian ones -- then he will see development in Gujarat. He also added that if Rahul dreams of Gujarat, then he should visit Porbandar -- and not Italy. Agar Rahul ko Gujarat ke sapne aate hain toh unko pura karne ke liye Italy nahi, Porbandar aana padega: Amit Shah in Porbandar pic.twitter.com/5IY1gKPBGP — ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2017 × Agar Rahul ko Gujarat ke sapne aate hain toh unko pura karne ke liye Italy nahi, Porbandar aana padega: Amit Shah in Porbandar pic.twitter.com/5IY1gKPBGP — ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2017 × Rahul's mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi was born Italian; she is now an Indian citizen. Rahul was recently in Gujarat, which is soon going to the polls this year. Also read: Gujarat government on remote control: Rahul Gandhi Shah was speaking in Porbandar, Gujarat. Shah had on Sunday flagged off the Gujarat Gaurav Yatra -- to highlight development in the state under two decades of BJP rule -- from Karamsad, which is where Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is from.

Rahul should wear Gujarati specs, then he will see development: Amit Shah

<p>On the second day of his <em>Navsarjan Yatra</em> in poll-bound Gujarat, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-adds-to-long-list-of-gaffes-20108">Rahul Gandhi</a> addressed the assembly seats in&nbsp;Jamnagar, Rajkot and Morbi.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congress VP Rahul Gandhi begins day 2 of Navsarjan Yatra from Jamnagar, after a successful first day. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%AA%AF%E0%AB%81%E0%AA%B5%E0%AA%BE_%E0%AA%B0%E0%AB%8B%E0%AA%9C%E0%AA%97%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%B0_%E0%AA%96%E0%AB%87%E0%AA%A1%E0%AB%82%E0%AA%A4_%E0%AA%85%E0%AA%A7%E0%AA%BF%E0%AA%95%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%B0?src=hash">#????_??????_?????_??????</a> <a href="https://t.co/48JhBI7vGY">pic.twitter.com/48JhBI7vGY</a></p>
&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/912531893693718528">September 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Rahul&nbsp;Gandhi said the state government should run from Gujarat and not from Delhi.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">State government should run from Gujarat and not Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat&#39;s Khijadiya</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912558432502214656">September 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Taking a jibe at the central government, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/twitter-reacts-to-rahul-gandhis-artificial-intelligence-learning-19926">Rahul Gandhi </a>said the present government in Gujarat is being controlled through &quot;a remote control from Delhi&quot;.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Aajkal Gujarat ki sarkar remote control se chalti hai, Delhi se chalti hai: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat <a href="https://t.co/WSa26ydGPP">pic.twitter.com/WSa26ydGPP</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912565296921157632">September 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Referring to the &#39;Make in India&#39; initiative, the Congress vice-president said that it is &quot;shameful that&nbsp;the &#39;Statue of Unity&#39; is being &#39;made in China&#39;.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The grand statue of unity is a tribute to Vallabhbhai Patel and is under construction in Gujarat.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Sardar Patel ji ki murti ban rahi hai,aur wo bhi China me ban rahi hai.Uske peechey &#39;made in China&#39; likha hua hai,sharm ki baat hai-R Gandhi <a href="https://t.co/Zbaasjza0T">pic.twitter.com/Zbaasjza0T</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912580454099718151">September 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>( Also&nbsp;Read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-takes-a-dig-at-modi-after-bhu-clash-20648">Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Modi after BHU clash</a> )</p>

<p>The Congress vice-president is on a three-day visit to Gujarat.&nbsp;He began his first day on Monday by offering prayers at Dwarkadhish temple in Dwaraka followed by an address to the party workers and villagers in Bhatia village in Jamnagar district.</p>


Taking a jibe at the central government, Rahul Gandhi said that the present government in Gujarat runs from a remote control from Delhi

On the second day of his Navsarjan Yatra in poll-bound Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi addressed the assembly seats in Jamnagar, Rajkot and Morbi. Congress VP Rahul Gandhi begins day 2 of Navsarjan Yatra from Jamnagar, after a successful first day. #????_??????_?????_?????? pic.twitter.com/48JhBI7vGY — Congress (@INCIndia) September 26, 2017 × Rahul Gandhi said the state government should run from Gujarat and not from Delhi. State government should run from Gujarat and not Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat's Khijadiya — ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2017 × Taking a jibe at the central government, Rahul Gandhi said the present government in Gujarat is being controlled through "a remote control from Delhi". Aajkal Gujarat ki sarkar remote control se chalti hai, Delhi se chalti hai: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat pic.twitter.com/WSa26ydGPP — ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2017 × Referring to the 'Make in India' initiative, the Congress vice-president said that it is "shameful that the 'Statue of Unity' is being 'made in China'." The grand statue of unity is a tribute to Vallabhbhai Patel and is under construction in Gujarat. Sardar Patel ji ki murti ban rahi hai,aur wo bhi China me ban rahi hai.Uske peechey 'made in China' likha hua hai,sharm ki baat hai-R Gandhi pic.twitter.com/Zbaasjza0T — ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2017 × ( Also Read: Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Modi after BHU clash ) The Congress vice-president is on a three-day visit to Gujarat. He began his first day on Monday by offering prayers at Dwarkadhish temple in Dwaraka followed by an address to the party workers and villagers in Bhatia village in Jamnagar district.

Gujarat government on remote control: Rahul Gandhi

<p>While addressing the BJP Executive Meeting&nbsp;in Delhi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that his government has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/all-political-parties-need-to-cooperate-for-improving-situation-in-jk-rajnath-singh-20117" target="_blank">zero tolerance for terrorism in Jammu and Kashmi</a>r.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that his government is working for the development of the state.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We raised development issues in J&amp;K and made clear that we have zero tolerance towards terrorism:Nitin Gadkari during BJP National Exec meet <a href="https://t.co/bnN1NE4dxa">pic.twitter.com/bnN1NE4dxa</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912240878416142336">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;He praised Prime Minister by saying that PM Modi has successfully raised the issue of terrorism on the world platform and also revealed Pakistan.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="de">PM pure vishv mein atankwad ke mudde ko prathmikta dene mein safal hue aur Pakistan ko expose karne mein bhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari <a href="https://t.co/EMakYOCyZ4">pic.twitter.com/EMakYOCyZ4</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912242751059587072">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He also appreciated the prime minister&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-pm-modis-visit-to-china-india-china-to-disengage-troops-along-doklam-19576">political diplomacy in dealing with China on the Doklam issue</a>. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="in"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Doklam?src=hash">#Doklam</a> ke mudde ko suljhane mein PM Modi ne raajneetik paripakta aur kuutniti ka parichay diya hai:Nitin Gadkari during BJP Natnl Exec Meet <a href="https://t.co/iNrvxFO2sA">pic.twitter.com/iNrvxFO2sA</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912243317135482882">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Talking about relations with Pakistan, the Union Minister said that his government wants to build cordial relations with the country. He even recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s&nbsp;historic stopover in Pakistan.</p>

<p>PM Modi had made a surprise stopover in Pakistan on 25 December 2016. He visited the country on his way back from Kabul.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="ht">Pakistan se hum dosti chahte hain, isliye PM protocol chorr ke Pak PM Sharif se mile gaye the: Nitin Gadkari during BJP National Exec meet <a href="https://t.co/ii65UcyYgb">pic.twitter.com/ii65UcyYgb</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912243861174460416">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Citing the recent incident that happened in BHU, Gadkari said the PM Modi and president Amit Shah have discussed the incident with the state&#39;s chief minister.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">PM Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have talked to UP CM Adityanath over BHU incident: Nitin Gadkari <a href="https://t.co/o0IXYmPXbt">pic.twitter.com/o0IXYmPXbt</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912252499997843457">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>(Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/at-bjps-executive-meet-amit-shah-takes-potshots-at-rahul-gandhi-for-defending-dynasty-politics-20601" target="_blank">At BJP&#39;s executive meet, Amit Shah takes potshots at Rahul Gandhi for defending dynasty politics</a>)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


?Talking about relations with Pakistan, the Union Minister said that his government had tried building cordial relations with the country. He even recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's?historic stopover in Pakistan

While addressing the BJP Executive Meeting in Delhi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that his government has zero tolerance for terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. He added that his government is working for the development of the state. We raised development issues in J&K and made clear that we have zero tolerance towards terrorism:Nitin Gadkari during BJP National Exec meet pic.twitter.com/bnN1NE4dxa — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017 × He praised Prime Minister by saying that PM Modi has successfully raised the issue of terrorism on the world platform and also revealed Pakistan. PM pure vishv mein atankwad ke mudde ko prathmikta dene mein safal hue aur Pakistan ko expose karne mein bhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari pic.twitter.com/EMakYOCyZ4 — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017 × He also appreciated the prime minister's political diplomacy in dealing with China on the Doklam issue. #Doklam ke mudde ko suljhane mein PM Modi ne raajneetik paripakta aur kuutniti ka parichay diya hai:Nitin Gadkari during BJP Natnl Exec Meet pic.twitter.com/iNrvxFO2sA — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017 × Talking about relations with Pakistan, the Union Minister said that his government wants to build cordial relations with the country. He even recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic stopover in Pakistan. PM Modi had made a surprise stopover in Pakistan on 25 December 2016. He visited the country on his way back from Kabul. Pakistan se hum dosti chahte hain, isliye PM protocol chorr ke Pak PM Sharif se mile gaye the: Nitin Gadkari during BJP National Exec meet pic.twitter.com/ii65UcyYgb — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017 × Citing the recent incident that happened in BHU, Gadkari said the PM Modi and president Amit Shah have discussed the incident with the state's chief minister. PM Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have talked to UP CM Adityanath over BHU incident: Nitin Gadkari pic.twitter.com/o0IXYmPXbt — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017 × (Also Read: At BJP's executive meet, Amit Shah takes potshots at Rahul Gandhi for defending dynasty politics)

Zero tolerance for terrorism in J&K: Nitin Gadkari at BJP executive meeting

<p>Rahul Gandhi criticising Modi&#39;s decision over note ban and GST said against the latter over <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bhu-clashes-yogi-adityanath-orders-probe-police-deployed-at-campus-20566" target="_blank">the BHU clash.</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Past Saturday night, Police baton-charged female students of BHU hostel after they allegedly attempted to meet vice chancellor. The matter came to light when <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-girl-protesting-at-bhu-shaves-her-head-for-safety-20537" target="_blank">female students on Friday morning protested against eve teasing</a> happening on the campus at the entrance of Banaras Hindu University from where PM Modi was scheduled to visit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi said while speaking to media that instead of having &#39;Save girl child, educate a girl child agenda,&#39; BJP&#39;s philosophy is to baton-charge the daughters when they ask for their rights.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is a matter of shame, the ongoing incidents in BHU and that FIRs are registered against girl students. These girls are not wrong, the approach of the government is wrong, said the Congress Vice-President.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Adding to it, Rahul Gandhi said that Varanasi is the constituency of the PM, he should apologise to the BHU girls and take an immediate action in their favour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also condemned the working system of government, saying this is not the way to work.&nbsp;</p>


Rahul Gandhi said BJP's philosophy to baton-charge girls who ask for their rights

Rahul Gandhi criticising Modi's decision over note ban and GST said against the latter over the BHU clash. Past Saturday night, Police baton-charged female students of BHU hostel after they allegedly attempted to meet vice chancellor. The matter came to light when female students on Friday morning protested against eve teasing happening on the campus at the entrance of Banaras Hindu University from where PM Modi was scheduled to visit. Rahul Gandhi said while speaking to media that instead of having 'Save girl child, educate a girl child agenda,' BJP's philosophy is to baton-charge the daughters when they ask for their rights. It is a matter of shame, the ongoing incidents in BHU and that FIRs are registered against girl students. These girls are not wrong, the approach of the government is wrong, said the Congress Vice-President. Adding to it, Rahul Gandhi said that Varanasi is the constituency of the PM, he should apologise to the BHU girls and take an immediate action in their favour. He also condemned the working system of government, saying this is not the way to work.

Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Modi after BHU clash

<p>External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj&#39;s address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) invited a sarcastic &quot;thank you&quot; from Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.</p>

<p>On Sunday, Rahul Gandhi thanked the external affairs minister for &quot;finally&quot; recognising the Congress&nbsp;governments&#39; &quot;great vision and legacy of setting up IITs and IIMs.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sushma ji, thank you for finally recognising Congress governments&#39; great vision and legacy of setting up IITs and IIMs</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/911785359985360896">September 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p><br />
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor was more effusive in his praise, calling the external affairs minister&#39;s response &quot;fitting and strong.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;Sushma ji was quite justified in turning the tables, her response was fitting and strong,&quot; Shashi Tharoor told ANI.</p>

<p>The Congress leader added that he appreciated hearing a member of the BJP government &quot;acknowledging great accomplishments of last 60-70 years.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>In her speech at the 72nd UNGA session in New York, the external affairs minister had said that while&nbsp;India had established institutions like IITs, IIMs and AIIMS, Pakistan on the other hand had created&nbsp;terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Haqqani network.</p>

<p>The external affairs minister also drew a contrast between India which produced scholars, doctors and&nbsp;engineers and its Asian neighbour which produced terrorists.</p>

<p>Several BJP leaders&nbsp;including Indian prime minister Narendra Modi congratulated&nbsp;Sushma Swaraj for her befitting reply to Islamabad on the issue of the unrest in Kashmir.</p>

<p>PM Modi lauded her for making India &quot;extremely proud on the world stage&quot;.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Incredible speech by EAM <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj">@SushmaSwaraj</a> at the <a href="https://twitter.com/UN">@UN</a>! She has made India extremely proud at the world stage. <a href="https://t.co/nLI2CC2VBj">https://t.co/nLI2CC2VBj</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNGA?src=hash">#UNGA</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/911623946784706561">September 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">EAM <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj">@SushmaSwaraj</a> was insightful in identifying global challenges &amp; strongly reiterated India&#39;s commitment to create a better planet. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNGA?src=hash">#UNGA</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/911624136144900096">September 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A strong message was given by <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj">@SushmaSwaraj</a> Ji on the dangers of terrorism and why we have to unite and fight this menace. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNGA?src=hash">#UNGA</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/911624298015727616">September 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Home minister Rajnath Singh also tweeted his congratulations:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations to Smt. <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj">@SushmaSwaraj</a> on her powerful, measured and nuanced articulation of India&rsquo;s stand on the issue of terrorism at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNGA?src=hash">#UNGA</a></p>
&mdash; Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/911627811068157952">September 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Her measured responses in spite of provocations speak volumes of her maturity &amp; tenacity. She has exposed Pakistan&rsquo;s duplicity on terrorism.</p>
&mdash; Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/911627998712946688">September 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I would like today to tell Pakistan&#39;s politicians just this much, that perhaps the wisest thing they&nbsp;could do is to look within. India and Pakistan became free within hours of each other. Why is it that&nbsp;today India is a recognised IT superpower in the world, and Pakistan is recognised only as the pre-eminent export factory for terror?,&quot; Ms&nbsp;Swaraj had said.</p>

<p>&quot;We established scientific and technical institutions which are the pride of the world. But what has&nbsp;Pakistan offered to the world and indeed to its own people apart from terrorism?&quot; she said, referring&nbsp;to the institutions such as IITs, IIMs and AIIMS.</p>

<p>&quot;We produced scientists, scholars, doctors, engineers.&nbsp;What have you produced? You have produced terrorists...you have created terrorist camps, you have&nbsp;created Lashkar-e- Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen and Haqqani network,&quot; she added.</p>


Rahul Gandhi thanked the external affairs minister for recognising the Congress?governments' 'great vision and legacy of setting up IITs and IIMs'

External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj's address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) invited a sarcastic "thank you" from Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. On Sunday, Rahul Gandhi thanked the external affairs minister for "finally" recognising the Congress governments' "great vision and legacy of setting up IITs and IIMs. Sushma ji, thank you for finally recognising Congress governments' great vision and legacy of setting up IITs and IIMs — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) September 24, 2017 × Congress leader Shashi Tharoor was more effusive in his praise, calling the external affairs minister's response "fitting and strong." "Sushma ji was quite justified in turning the tables, her response was fitting and strong," Shashi Tharoor told ANI. The Congress leader added that he appreciated hearing a member of the BJP government "acknowledging great accomplishments of last 60-70 years." In her speech at the 72nd UNGA session in New York, the external affairs minister had said that while India had established institutions like IITs, IIMs and AIIMS, Pakistan on the other hand had created terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Haqqani network. The external affairs minister also drew a contrast between India which produced scholars, doctors and engineers and its Asian neighbour which produced terrorists. Several BJP leaders including Indian prime minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sushma Swaraj for her befitting reply to Islamabad on the issue of the unrest in Kashmir. PM Modi lauded her for making India "extremely proud on the world stage". Incredible speech by EAM @SushmaSwaraj at the @UN! She has made India extremely proud at the world stage. https://t.co/nLI2CC2VBj #UNGA — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2017 × EAM @SushmaSwaraj was insightful in identifying global challenges & strongly reiterated India's commitment to create a better planet. #UNGA — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2017 × A strong message was given by @SushmaSwaraj Ji on the dangers of terrorism and why we have to unite and fight this menace. #UNGA — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2017 × Home minister Rajnath Singh also tweeted his congratulations: Congratulations to Smt. @SushmaSwaraj on her powerful, measured and nuanced articulation of India’s stand on the issue of terrorism at #UNGA — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 23, 2017 × Her measured responses in spite of provocations speak volumes of her maturity & tenacity. She has exposed Pakistan’s duplicity on terrorism. — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 23, 2017 × "I would like today to tell Pakistan's politicians just this much, that perhaps the wisest thing they could do is to look within. India and Pakistan became free within hours of each other. Why is it that today India is a recognised IT superpower in the world, and Pakistan is recognised only as the pre-eminent export factory for terror?," Ms Swaraj had said. "We established scientific and technical institutions which are the pride of the world. But what has Pakistan offered to the world and indeed to its own people apart from terrorism?" she said, referring to the institutions such as IITs, IIMs and AIIMS. "We produced scientists, scholars, doctors, engineers. What have you produced? You have produced terrorists...you have created terrorist camps, you have created Lashkar-e- Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen and Haqqani network," she added.

Sushma Swaraj's UN speech and a 'thank you' from Rahul Gandhi

<p>After Rahul Gandhi&#39;s no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union minister Smriti Irani launched a counter-broadside against the Congress vice president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Addressing the media in Delhi, Irani said Rahul Gandhi was a &quot;failed dynast&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;A failed dynast today chose to speak about his failed political journeys in USA,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>Gandi had attacked the prime minister in a speech -- India at 70: Reflections on the Path Forward -- &nbsp;he gave at the University of California, Berkeley earlier on Tuesday morning. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A failed dynast today chose to speak about his failed political journeys in USA: Smriti Irani on Rahul Gandhi <a href="https://t.co/1hCoXHyMeY">pic.twitter.com/1hCoXHyMeY</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907498163610689537">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Irani said Gandhi&#39;s charges against Prime Minister Narendra Modi were not surprising. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The fact that Mr. Gandhi chose to belittle the PM is not surprising infact expected: Smriti Irani on Rahul Gandhi&#39;s statement</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907498650963546112">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>She said he had failed to connect with the people of India and that he was now criticising his political opponents from a foreign platform.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">After failing to connect with ppl of India Mr Gandhi chooses platform of convenience for berating his political opponents-Smriti Irani on RG <a href="https://t.co/6yzRvbuxnL">pic.twitter.com/6yzRvbuxnL</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907499271460601857">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Nor did she agree with Gandhi&#39;s statement that dynasts and dynasties are fundamental to India.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-in-us-makes-no-holds-barred-attack-on-pm-modi-20102" target="_blank">Also </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-in-us-makes-no-holds-barred-attack-on-pm-modi-20102" target="_blank">read:</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-in-us-makes-no-holds-barred-attack-on-pm-modi-20102" target="_blank">&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi, in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-in-us-makes-no-holds-barred-attack-on-pm-modi-20102" target="_blank">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-in-us-makes-no-holds-barred-attack-on-pm-modi-20102" target="_blank">, makes no-holds-barred attack on PM Modi</a></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Fact that he (Rahul Gandhi) says that dynasts &amp; dynasties is the very fulcrum of India in itself is an anomaly: Smriti Irani</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907499889038209024">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To say that Congress became arrogant under Smt. Gandhi and hence lost election is a big political confession in itself: Smriti Irani on RG <a href="https://t.co/kKEJTgv0IK">pic.twitter.com/kKEJTgv0IK</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907497281095589888">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>And she added that Rahul Gandhi saying the Congress became arrogant under Sonia Gandhi, and lost an election, was a big political confession.&nbsp;</p>


'A failed dynast today chose to speak about his failed political journeys,' she said

After Rahul Gandhi's no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union minister Smriti Irani launched a counter-broadside against the Congress vice president. Addressing the media in Delhi, Irani said Rahul Gandhi was a "failed dynast". "A failed dynast today chose to speak about his failed political journeys in USA," she said. Gandi had attacked the prime minister in a speech -- India at 70: Reflections on the Path Forward -- he gave at the University of California, Berkeley earlier on Tuesday morning. A failed dynast today chose to speak about his failed political journeys in USA: Smriti Irani on Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/1hCoXHyMeY — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × Irani said Gandhi's charges against Prime Minister Narendra Modi were not surprising. The fact that Mr. Gandhi chose to belittle the PM is not surprising infact expected: Smriti Irani on Rahul Gandhi's statement — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × She said he had failed to connect with the people of India and that he was now criticising his political opponents from a foreign platform. After failing to connect with ppl of India Mr Gandhi chooses platform of convenience for berating his political opponents-Smriti Irani on RG pic.twitter.com/6yzRvbuxnL — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × Nor did she agree with Gandhi's statement that dynasts and dynasties are fundamental to India. Also read: Rahul Gandhi, in US, makes no-holds-barred attack on PM Modi Fact that he (Rahul Gandhi) says that dynasts & dynasties is the very fulcrum of India in itself is an anomaly: Smriti Irani — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × To say that Congress became arrogant under Smt. Gandhi and hence lost election is a big political confession in itself: Smriti Irani on RG pic.twitter.com/kKEJTgv0IK — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × And she added that Rahul Gandhi saying the Congress became arrogant under Sonia Gandhi, and lost an election, was a big political confession.

Smriti Irani responds to Rahul Gandhi, calls him 'failed dynast'

<p>Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has finally accepted that he is the scion of a dynasty and so be it. The comment has come at a time when Congress is fighting the battle of its life in India where it seems to be losing state after state, barring exceptions like Punjab. Earlier all the attempts by the Congress were to project the young Gandhi like a natural successor who is liked by the workers.</p>

<p>&nbsp;This could not materalise because victory eluded the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh where Rahul Gandhi pegged his political gravitas thrice.</p>

<p>But the catch is that there is a difference between economic inheritance and control of political parties by a single family. In every society, children inherit the afterglow of successful careers of their parents. It either comes in the form of recognition or mutual obligation as they are known in the social circle. The above form of inheritance is natural.</p>

<p>The control of a political party by one family continuously for 40 years is an altogether another form of dynastic politics. In no way, it can be justified by saying that India works like this. Mr Gandhi can&#39;t partake goodness of modern education and while disavow its responsibility and duty. Today, you cannot be a democrat and dynast at the same time. It is a contradiction in term. It is not only a betrayal of one&rsquo;s own education but to state it as a done thing is to compromise the lofty ideals of the republic which is about democracy and equality. Rahul Gandhi said that Congress is about a conversation but is it possible to have a conversation in the Congress where one can talk about a non-Gandhi running the Congress Party.</p>

<p>&nbsp;Today Congress is a cabal of multiple dynasties ranging from the centre to local levels all of whom owe their position to the Gandhis. One can even compare it with kingship which is sustained by like-minded clans and supported through stable succession at all levels.</p>

<p>&nbsp;Political dynasties kill democracy in political parties. They represent an abnormality in Indian political system. Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s statement may set him free him from the dynasty debate but the truth is that he has reached the top, not because of his own fitness but because he is the son of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The only silver lining for Rahul Gandhi is that he has started to position himself in direct contrast to Modi which was earlier missing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>From now Rahul will be judged by what he does, and not on the basis of how he has come to occupy the throne. This may sound dismissive but the fact is by stating his intention to run the system, he has set aside all apprehensions within the party. He needs acceptability and legitimacy from the public and to get it,&nbsp; he will have to work towards it.</p>


From now Rahul will be judged by what he does, and not on the basis of how he has come to occupy the throne.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has finally accepted that he is the scion of a dynasty and so be it. The comment has come at a time when Congress is fighting the battle of its life in India where it seems to be losing state after state, barring exceptions like Punjab. Earlier all the attempts by the Congress were to project the young Gandhi like a natural successor who is liked by the workers. This could not materalise because victory eluded the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh where Rahul Gandhi pegged his political gravitas thrice. But the catch is that there is a difference between economic inheritance and control of political parties by a single family. In every society, children inherit the afterglow of successful careers of their parents. It either comes in the form of recognition or mutual obligation as they are known in the social circle. The above form of inheritance is natural. The control of a political party by one family continuously for 40 years is an altogether another form of dynastic politics. In no way, it can be justified by saying that India works like this. Mr Gandhi can't partake goodness of modern education and while disavow its responsibility and duty. Today, you cannot be a democrat and dynast at the same time. It is a contradiction in term. It is not only a betrayal of one’s own education but to state it as a done thing is to compromise the lofty ideals of the republic which is about democracy and equality. Rahul Gandhi said that Congress is about a conversation but is it possible to have a conversation in the Congress where one can talk about a non-Gandhi running the Congress Party. Today Congress is a cabal of multiple dynasties ranging from the centre to local levels all of whom owe their position to the Gandhis. One can even compare it with kingship which is sustained by like-minded clans and supported through stable succession at all levels. Political dynasties kill democracy in political parties. They represent an abnormality in Indian political system. Rahul Gandhi’s statement may set him free him from the dynasty debate but the truth is that he has reached the top, not because of his own fitness but because he is the son of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The only silver lining for Rahul Gandhi is that he has started to position himself in direct contrast to Modi which was earlier missing. From now Rahul will be judged by what he does, and not on the basis of how he has come to occupy the throne. This may sound dismissive but the fact is by stating his intention to run the system, he has set aside all apprehensions within the party. He needs acceptability and legitimacy from the public and to get it, he will have to work towards it.

To politically succeed, Rahul Gandhi needs to prove himself beyond dynasty politics

<p>Rahul Gandhi, who is currently in the US on a two-week tour, has made a no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi blamed Modi for an upsurge in terrorism in Kashmir, the idea that non-violence is under attack in India today, a lack of transparency, and the vilification campaign run against him (Gandhi).&nbsp;</p>

<p>But, at the same time, there was grudging admiration of Modi -- the prime minister&#39;s communication skills for instance.&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>But, at the same time, there was grudging admiration of Modi -- the prime minister&#39;s communication skills for instance</h5>
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<p>Gandhi also spoke about dynasty, saying that was how most of the country was run, and demonetisation, which he said caused tremendous damage and was implemented without consulting the people who should have been.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi made his comments at the University of California, Berkeley.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;There is a BJP machine, about 1000 guys sitting on computers and telling you about me,&quot; Gandhi said when asked whether he was a reluctant politician. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi added that it was a &quot;tremendous machine, all day they spread abuse about me, and the operation is run by the gentleman who is running our country.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">There is a BJP machine,about 1000 guys sitting on computers&amp;telling you about me: Rahul Gandhi on question of being a reluctant politician <a href="https://t.co/JzyJj6CU6c">pic.twitter.com/JzyJj6CU6c</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907433471949209601">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tremendous machine, all day they spread abuse about me, and the operation is run by the gentleman who is running our country: Rahul Gandhi</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907434055024623616">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He then said that by 2013, the UPA had broken the &quot;back of terror&quot; in Kashmir.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">When we started, terrorism was rampant in Kashmir, when we finished there was peace, we had broken the back of terrorism: Rahul Gandhi</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907434890995449856">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">By 2013,we basically broke the back of terror, I hugged PM Manmohan Singh and told him it was one of the biggest achievements:R Gandhi</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907435443041443841">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Then added: &quot;PDP was instrumental in bringing youngsters in politics, but the day PM Modi made alliance with PDP, he destroyed them (PDP).&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;So he (PM Modi) massively opened up space for the terrorists in Kashmir, and you saw the increase in violence.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">So he(PM Modi) massively opened up space for the terrorists in Kashmir, and you saw the increase in violence: Rahul Gandhi <a href="https://t.co/mJCMrDy5eO">pic.twitter.com/mJCMrDy5eO</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907437329538719744">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also said Modi had clamped down on the use of RTI (right to information).&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mr.Modi clamped down on RTI. He shut it down.We got in trouble as we dramatically increased transparency: Rahul Gandhi</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907432439894515712">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;What I sense is he doesn&#39;t converse with people he works with, even members of Parliament and BJP tell me that,&quot; he added about Modi.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What I sense is he doesn&#39;t converse with ppl he works with, even members of Parliament and BJP tell me that: Rahul Gandhi on PM</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907439337855369216">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Gandhi however accepted that Modi was a very good communicator.</p>

<p>Much better than him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;He knows how to give a message to three to four different groups in a crowd, so his messaging ability is very effective and subtle,&quot; Gandhi said of Modi.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mr.Modi has certain skills,he is a very good communicator,much better than me: Rahul Gandhi in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCBerkeley?src=hash">#UCBerkeley</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907438431168471040">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">He knows how to give a message to 3-4 different groups in a crowd, so his messaging ability is very effective and subtle:Rahul Gandhi on PM</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907438732516614145">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>On the question of dynasty, Gandhi said that&#39;s how most of the country runs... so why go after him alone?&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Most of the country runs like this, so don&#39;t go after me, &nbsp;Akhilesh Yadav a dynast, Mr Stalin a dynast, Mr Dhumal&#39;s son a dynast,&quot; Gandhi said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Even Mr Abhishek Bachchan is a dynast, also Mr Ambani, that&#39;s how (the) entire country is running,&quot; Gandhi said.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Most of the country runs like this, so don&#39;t go after me, Akhilesh Yadav a dynast, Mr Stalin a dynast,Mr Dhumal&#39;s son a dynast:Rahul Gandhi <a href="https://t.co/eIDsvnlxtp">pic.twitter.com/eIDsvnlxtp</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907431591265177600">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Even Mr.Abhishek Bachchan is a dynast, also Mr Ambani, that&#39;s how entire country is running: Rahul Gandhi</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907443343436660736">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>There was also some self-reflection, with Gandhi saying that towards the end of UPA 2, a certain arrogance had crept into the Congress party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But he added that the &quot;Congress decides policy and vision through conversations and not by imposition&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Decisions like <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/demonetisation?src=hash">#demonetisation</a> taken without asking Chief Economic Advisor and Parliament caused tremendous damage:Rahul Gandhi</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907426551767064576">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Unlike China, India has to create jobs in a democratic environment: Rahul Gandhi in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCBerkeley?src=hash">#UCBerkeley</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907426828343697408">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/idea-of-non-violence-under-attack-in-india-rahul-gandhi-20100" target="_blank">Also read: Idea of non-violence under attack in India, says Rahul Gandhi</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-adds-to-long-list-of-gaffes-20108" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi adds to long list of gaffes</a></p>


Gandhi blamed Modi for an upsurge in terrorism in Kashmir, the idea that non-violence is under attack in India today, a lack of transparency, and the vilification campaign run against him (Gandhi)

Rahul Gandhi, who is currently in the US on a two-week tour, has made a no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi blamed Modi for an upsurge in terrorism in Kashmir, the idea that non-violence is under attack in India today, a lack of transparency, and the vilification campaign run against him (Gandhi). But, at the same time, there was grudging admiration of Modi -- the prime minister's communication skills for instance. But, at the same time, there was grudging admiration of Modi -- the prime minister's communication skills for instance × Gandhi also spoke about dynasty, saying that was how most of the country was run, and demonetisation, which he said caused tremendous damage and was implemented without consulting the people who should have been. Gandhi made his comments at the University of California, Berkeley. "There is a BJP machine, about 1000 guys sitting on computers and telling you about me," Gandhi said when asked whether he was a reluctant politician. Gandhi added that it was a "tremendous machine, all day they spread abuse about me, and the operation is run by the gentleman who is running our country." There is a BJP machine,about 1000 guys sitting on computers&telling you about me: Rahul Gandhi on question of being a reluctant politician pic.twitter.com/JzyJj6CU6c — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × Tremendous machine, all day they spread abuse about me, and the operation is run by the gentleman who is running our country: Rahul Gandhi — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × He then said that by 2013, the UPA had broken the "back of terror" in Kashmir. When we started, terrorism was rampant in Kashmir, when we finished there was peace, we had broken the back of terrorism: Rahul Gandhi — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × By 2013,we basically broke the back of terror, I hugged PM Manmohan Singh and told him it was one of the biggest achievements:R Gandhi — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × Then added: "PDP was instrumental in bringing youngsters in politics, but the day PM Modi made alliance with PDP, he destroyed them (PDP). "So he (PM Modi) massively opened up space for the terrorists in Kashmir, and you saw the increase in violence." So he(PM Modi) massively opened up space for the terrorists in Kashmir, and you saw the increase in violence: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/mJCMrDy5eO — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × He also said Modi had clamped down on the use of RTI (right to information). Mr.Modi clamped down on RTI. He shut it down.We got in trouble as we dramatically increased transparency: Rahul Gandhi — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × "What I sense is he doesn't converse with people he works with, even members of Parliament and BJP tell me that," he added about Modi. What I sense is he doesn't converse with ppl he works with, even members of Parliament and BJP tell me that: Rahul Gandhi on PM — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × Gandhi however accepted that Modi was a very good communicator. Much better than him. "He knows how to give a message to three to four different groups in a crowd, so his messaging ability is very effective and subtle," Gandhi said of Modi. Mr.Modi has certain skills,he is a very good communicator,much better than me: Rahul Gandhi in #UCBerkeley — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × He knows how to give a message to 3-4 different groups in a crowd, so his messaging ability is very effective and subtle:Rahul Gandhi on PM — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × On the question of dynasty, Gandhi said that's how most of the country runs... so why go after him alone? "Most of the country runs like this, so don't go after me, Akhilesh Yadav a dynast, Mr Stalin a dynast, Mr Dhumal's son a dynast," Gandhi said. "Even Mr Abhishek Bachchan is a dynast, also Mr Ambani, that's how (the) entire country is running," Gandhi said. Most of the country runs like this, so don't go after me, Akhilesh Yadav a dynast, Mr Stalin a dynast,Mr Dhumal's son a dynast:Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/eIDsvnlxtp — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × Even Mr.Abhishek Bachchan is a dynast, also Mr Ambani, that's how entire country is running: Rahul Gandhi — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × There was also some self-reflection, with Gandhi saying that towards the end of UPA 2, a certain arrogance had crept into the Congress party. But he added that the "Congress decides policy and vision through conversations and not by imposition". Decisions like #demonetisation taken without asking Chief Economic Advisor and Parliament caused tremendous damage:Rahul Gandhi — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × Unlike China, India has to create jobs in a democratic environment: Rahul Gandhi in #UCBerkeley — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 × Also read: Idea of non-violence under attack in India, says Rahul Gandhi Also read: Rahul Gandhi adds to long list of gaffes

Rahul Gandhi, in US, makes no-holds-barred attack on PM Modi

<p>Union minister Smriti Irani is responding to the comments made by Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi had made a no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the morning.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="it"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: Union Minister Smriti Irani addresses the media in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/c7TOVmqTnB">https://t.co/c7TOVmqTnB</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/907495966789459968">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Gandhi had made a no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the morning

Union minister Smriti Irani is responding to the comments made by Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi had made a no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the morning. #WATCH: Union Minister Smriti Irani addresses the media in Delhi https://t.co/c7TOVmqTnB — ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2017 ×

WATCH: Smriti Irani responds to Rahul Gandhi

<p>Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi left <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/twitter-reacts-to-rahul-gandhis-artificial-intelligence-learning-19926">on a two-week tour of the US on Sunday night</a> to meet with&nbsp;global thinkers, political leaders and Indians living abroad over a variety of issues.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His two-week trip&nbsp;starts with an address at the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/google-to-utilise-the-chinese-ai-19880">University of California, Berkeley titled&nbsp;&#39;India at 70 -- Reflections on the Path forward&#39;</a> where he will talk about&nbsp;contemporary India and the path forward for the world&#39;s largest democracy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As part of an outreach programme by the Congress party, Gandhi will meet overseas Indians at an event in New York.&nbsp;He is likely to address members of the think- tank community at an event organised by the Centre for American Progress, and interact with the corporate world at another programme organised by the US-India Business Council.</p>

<p>Announcing on Twitter, he tweeted:&nbsp;&quot;Looking forward to addressing students of University of California, Berkeley and interacting with Indian Overseas Congress members with Sam Pitroda during my visit to the US.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Looking forward to addressing students <a href="https://twitter.com/UCBerkeley">@UCBerkeley</a> &amp; interacting w/Indian Overseas Congress members w/<a href="https://twitter.com/sampitroda">@sampitroda</a> during my visit to the US</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/906726533754007552">September 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The trip will also highlight Gandhi family&#39;s long association with Berkeley as India&#39;s first prime minister and his great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru had delivered a speech at the same university in the year 1949.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As reported by PTI, Sam Pitroda said, &quot;The purpose of the visit is two-fold. One is to meet interesting and global thinkers, to have a conversation on what is happening&nbsp;the world over on economy, on technology, on opportunities, and really understand different views from experts on the global scene.&quot;</p>

<p>He added, &quot;Gandhi may meet some members of the ruling Republican Party as well. A lot of these meetings are going to be small and private. He&nbsp;wants to understand more about what&#39;s happening globally and what&#39;s the global view of the situation is.&nbsp;He is coming to meet with students and academicians and various thinking people in the US.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">RG in SiliconValley: After a lovely dinner discussion at the home of VC Sanjay Subhedar. <a href="https://twitter.com/sampitroda">@sampitroda</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/milinddeora">@milinddeora</a> <a href="https://t.co/6aolsrVycf">pic.twitter.com/6aolsrVycf</a></p>
&mdash; Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/907120077434056704">September 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">At a Silicon Valley reception in honour of <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG">@OfficeOfRG</a>. Great seeing legendary VC <a href="https://twitter.com/vkhosla">@vkhosla</a> &amp; Ram Shriram, <a href="https://twitter.com/Google">@Google</a>&#39;s founding board member <a href="https://t.co/J9eG5kaVTJ">pic.twitter.com/J9eG5kaVTJ</a></p>
&mdash; Milind Deora (@milinddeora) <a href="https://twitter.com/milinddeora/status/907118786762891264">September 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Pitroda is currently a part of Rahul Gandhi&#39;s visit to the US. He worked with Gandhi&#39;s father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi to transform India&#39;s telecom sector.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said that&nbsp;Gandhi would also interact with people in the Silicon Valley where&nbsp;technology, talent and Indian&nbsp;&quot;brain power&quot; is concentrated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi will also address a gathering at the Princeton University.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


He will be addressing students at the University of California, Berkeley on the first day of his visit

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi left on a two-week tour of the US on Sunday night to meet with global thinkers, political leaders and Indians living abroad over a variety of issues. His two-week trip starts with an address at the University of California, Berkeley titled 'India at 70 -- Reflections on the Path forward' where he will talk about contemporary India and the path forward for the world's largest democracy. As part of an outreach programme by the Congress party, Gandhi will meet overseas Indians at an event in New York. He is likely to address members of the think- tank community at an event organised by the Centre for American Progress, and interact with the corporate world at another programme organised by the US-India Business Council. Announcing on Twitter, he tweeted: "Looking forward to addressing students of University of California, Berkeley and interacting with Indian Overseas Congress members with Sam Pitroda during my visit to the US." Looking forward to addressing students @UCBerkeley & interacting w/Indian Overseas Congress members w/@sampitroda during my visit to the US — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) September 10, 2017 × The trip will also highlight Gandhi family's long association with Berkeley as India's first prime minister and his great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru had delivered a speech at the same university in the year 1949. As reported by PTI, Sam Pitroda said, "The purpose of the visit is two-fold. One is to meet interesting and global thinkers, to have a conversation on what is happening the world over on economy, on technology, on opportunities, and really understand different views from experts on the global scene." He added, "Gandhi may meet some members of the ruling Republican Party as well. A lot of these meetings are going to be small and private. He wants to understand more about what's happening globally and what's the global view of the situation is. He is coming to meet with students and academicians and various thinking people in the US." RG in SiliconValley: After a lovely dinner discussion at the home of VC Sanjay Subhedar. @sampitroda @milinddeora pic.twitter.com/6aolsrVycf — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 11, 2017 × At a Silicon Valley reception in honour of @OfficeOfRG. Great seeing legendary VC @vkhosla & Ram Shriram, @Google's founding board member pic.twitter.com/J9eG5kaVTJ — Milind Deora (@milinddeora) September 11, 2017 × Pitroda is currently a part of Rahul Gandhi's visit to the US. He worked with Gandhi's father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi to transform India's telecom sector. He said that Gandhi would also interact with people in the Silicon Valley where technology, talent and Indian "brain power" is concentrated. Gandhi will also address a gathering at the Princeton University.

Rahul Gandhi leaves for two-week US tour, to meet with overseas Indians and global thinkers

<p>A day after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/google-to-utilise-the-chinese-ai-19880">Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi announced his plans of visiting the United States to expand his knowledge on Artificial Intelligence,</a> the&nbsp;matter has become a subject of ridicule on Twitter.</p>

<p>The incident has attracted extensive reactions from people on the social networking site. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Twitterati has&nbsp;poked fun at Rahul Gandhi for his claims of expanding his knowledge&nbsp;in order to improve India&#39;s Artificial Intelligence.</p>

<p>One of the posts on twitter says &quot;Rahul Gandhi is going to deliver lecture on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/is-artificial-intelligence-boon-or-bane-4703">Artificial Intelligence</a>&nbsp;I fear that Albert Einstein may come out of his grave to slap organizer&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rahul Gandhi is going to deliver lecture on Artificial Intelligence<br />
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I fear that Albert Einstein may come out of his grave to slap organizer</p>
&mdash; Farrago Abdullah (@abdullah_0mar) <a href="https://twitter.com/abdullah_0mar/status/904756854907133952">September 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Recently Elon Musk warned the world that Artificial Intelligence may lead to third world war, however, a user made all those claims bogus after Rahul Gandhi&#39;s attempt on learning Artificial Intelligence.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Elon Musk: Artificial intelligence is a threat to humanity<br />
<br />
*Rahul Gandhi speaks on AI*<br />
<br />
Elon: I was wrong...this man is the greatest threat</p>
&mdash; InGenious (@Bees_Kut) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bees_Kut/status/904756483832725505">September 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Artificial Intelligence, the science of creating intelligent machines that think like human brains, is still in its nascent&nbsp;phase in India. However many other countries including China have already invested in the field.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Reaction of Elon Musk when told Rahul Gandhi will be addressing Americans on Artificial Intelligence... <a href="https://t.co/ydk9qBKhB5">pic.twitter.com/ydk9qBKhB5</a></p>
&mdash; The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyaUkhaadLega/status/904743094083510274">September 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sequence Of Events:<br />
1. Putin:&quot;Leader In Artificial Intelligence Will Rule World&quot;<br />
2. Rahul Gandhi To Speak On AI<br />
3.Putin Takes His Words Back <a href="https://t.co/B4cpq735Vg">pic.twitter.com/B4cpq735Vg</a></p>
&mdash; Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) <a href="https://twitter.com/SirJadeja/status/904745946516398080">September 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">When Robot heard Rahul Gandhi is coming to address on Artificial Intelligence ?? <a href="https://t.co/4aCZDzwsVT">pic.twitter.com/4aCZDzwsVT</a></p>
&mdash; Vishal Surywanshi (@vsurywanshi87) <a href="https://twitter.com/vsurywanshi87/status/904910281624584192">September 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mahatma Gandhi ji ne kaha tha, &quot;An AI for an AI will make the whole world blind&quot;<br />
<br />
- Rahul Gandhi in his speech on Artificial Intelligence</p>
&mdash; Punk (@punk_hardik) <a href="https://twitter.com/punk_hardik/status/904777972028018688">September 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">When World Leaders Came To Know Bambino Rahul Gandhi Is Going To Speak On <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArtificialIntelligence?src=hash">#ArtificialIntelligence</a> At US ! <a href="https://twitter.com/Swamy39">@Swamy39</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trump?src=hash">#Trump</a> ?????? h <a href="https://t.co/AXS0QIN60A">pic.twitter.com/AXS0QIN60A</a></p>
&mdash; Mahesh Joshi MJ (@MaheshJoshi_MJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaheshJoshi_MJ/status/905258162651004928">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The genius of Rahul Gandhi lies in how effectively he will blame Modi govt for suppressing Artificial Intelligence. ??</p>
&mdash; Sweetsie C2 (@itssitu) <a href="https://twitter.com/itssitu/status/905307672433524736">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prepration done by Rahul Gandhi to address a gathering on the topic &quot;Artificial intelligence&quot;. <a href="https://t.co/0wOSgctA9B">pic.twitter.com/0wOSgctA9B</a></p>
&mdash; IBN battuta (@theesmaarkhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/theesmaarkhan/status/904749917960151041">September 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/the-sultanate-has-gone-but-we-behave-as-if-we-are-sultans-still-jairam-ramesh-on-congress-party-18670"> Congress&nbsp;party&nbsp;source</a>, Rahul Gandhi wants India to excel in Artificial Intelligence.</p>


Twitterati has?poked fun at Rahul Gandhi for his claims of expanding his knowledge?in order to improve India's Artificial Intelligence

A day after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi announced his plans of visiting the United States to expand his knowledge on Artificial Intelligence, the matter has become a subject of ridicule on Twitter. The incident has attracted extensive reactions from people on the social networking site. Twitterati has poked fun at Rahul Gandhi for his claims of expanding his knowledge in order to improve India's Artificial Intelligence. One of the posts on twitter says "Rahul Gandhi is going to deliver lecture on Artificial Intelligence I fear that Albert Einstein may come out of his grave to slap organizer" Rahul Gandhi is going to deliver lecture on Artificial Intelligence I fear that Albert Einstein may come out of his grave to slap organizer — Farrago Abdullah (@abdullah_0mar) September 4, 2017 × Recently Elon Musk warned the world that Artificial Intelligence may lead to third world war, however, a user made all those claims bogus after Rahul Gandhi's attempt on learning Artificial Intelligence. Elon Musk: Artificial intelligence is a threat to humanity *Rahul Gandhi speaks on AI* Elon: I was wrong...this man is the greatest threat — InGenious (@Bees_Kut) September 4, 2017 × Artificial Intelligence, the science of creating intelligent machines that think like human brains, is still in its nascent phase in India. However many other countries including China have already invested in the field. Reaction of Elon Musk when told Rahul Gandhi will be addressing Americans on Artificial Intelligence... pic.twitter.com/ydk9qBKhB5 — The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) September 4, 2017 × Sequence Of Events: 1. Putin:"Leader In Artificial Intelligence Will Rule World" 2. Rahul Gandhi To Speak On AI 3.Putin Takes His Words Back pic.twitter.com/B4cpq735Vg — Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) September 4, 2017 × When Robot heard Rahul Gandhi is coming to address on Artificial Intelligence ?? pic.twitter.com/4aCZDzwsVT — Vishal Surywanshi (@vsurywanshi87) September 5, 2017 × Mahatma Gandhi ji ne kaha tha, "An AI for an AI will make the whole world blind" - Rahul Gandhi in his speech on Artificial Intelligence — Punk (@punk_hardik) September 4, 2017 × When World Leaders Came To Know Bambino Rahul Gandhi Is Going To Speak On #ArtificialIntelligence At US ! @Swamy39 #Trump ?????? h pic.twitter.com/AXS0QIN60A — Mahesh Joshi MJ (@MaheshJoshi_MJ) September 6, 2017 × The genius of Rahul Gandhi lies in how effectively he will blame Modi govt for suppressing Artificial Intelligence. ?? — Sweetsie C2 (@itssitu) September 6, 2017 × Prepration done by Rahul Gandhi to address a gathering on the topic "Artificial intelligence". pic.twitter.com/0wOSgctA9B — IBN battuta (@theesmaarkhan) September 4, 2017 × According to Congress party source, Rahul Gandhi wants India to excel in Artificial Intelligence.

How Twitter reacted to Rahul Gandhi's Artificial Intelligence learning

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-leaves-for-norway-to-skip-rjds-bjp-bhagao-desh-bachao-rally-19518">Rahul Gandhi, who has just returned from Norway</a> is now heading for&nbsp;another foreign visit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This time the Congress vice-president will be visiting Silicon Valley in the United States to groom his Artificial Intelligence skills.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Party sources say&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi wants India to excel in Artificial Intelligence and added that he is going to the US to &quot;expand his thoughts about artificial intelligence&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Artificial Intelligence, the science of creating intelligent machines that think like human brains, is still in its nascent&nbsp;phase in India. However many other countries including China have already invested in the field.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chinese government had long ago&nbsp;realised the importance of Artificial Intelligence for boosting its economy. The country has already devised plans to emerge as the world&#39;s premier AI innovation hub by 2030.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/second-academic-journal-pressed-to-censor-china-content-19309"> strict censorship in China</a>, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/game-of-tech-apple-google-facebook-who-will-win-392">Google</a> is striving to utilise the intelligent technology resource and engineering talent&nbsp;from China. The US tech giant is looking for AI experts from the country.</p>

<p>The growth of artificial intelligence in China has moved Google to establish its own AI research team in the country, which it&nbsp;indicated during its&nbsp;May AI summit held near Shanghai.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Google&#39;s search engine has been <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/apple-abstains-its-chinese-users-from-accessing-vpn-18430">blocked in China</a> since 2010, however, the company is making efforts to maintain a strong foot hold in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Google recently entered into a partnership with the local government on the AI summit in the town of Wuzhen.</p>

<p>The US giant has also relaunched Google Translate mobile app in Chinese language. &nbsp;Recently Google initiated building artificial&nbsp;intelligence team in the country.</p>


Recently Google has initiated for building artificial team in the country. As part of its AI research It is looking for expert qualified human resources for its machine learning programme

Rahul Gandhi, who has just returned from Norway is now heading for another foreign visit. This time the Congress vice-president will be visiting Silicon Valley in the United States to groom his Artificial Intelligence skills. Party sources say Rahul Gandhi wants India to excel in Artificial Intelligence and added that he is going to the US to "expand his thoughts about artificial intelligence". Artificial Intelligence, the science of creating intelligent machines that think like human brains, is still in its nascent phase in India. However many other countries including China have already invested in the field. The Chinese government had long ago realised the importance of Artificial Intelligence for boosting its economy. The country has already devised plans to emerge as the world's premier AI innovation hub by 2030. Despite the strict censorship in China, Google is striving to utilise the intelligent technology resource and engineering talent from China. The US tech giant is looking for AI experts from the country. The growth of artificial intelligence in China has moved Google to establish its own AI research team in the country, which it indicated during its May AI summit held near Shanghai. Google's search engine has been blocked in China since 2010, however, the company is making efforts to maintain a strong foot hold in the country. Google recently entered into a partnership with the local government on the AI summit in the town of Wuzhen. The US giant has also relaunched Google Translate mobile app in Chinese language. Recently Google initiated building artificial intelligence team in the country.

Rahul Gandhi to visit Silicon Valley to study Artificial Intelligence

<p>Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday left for Norway where he is expected to meet political and business leaders.</p>

<p>&quot;Looking forward to meeting and exchanging ideas with political and business leaders &amp; research institutions,&quot; Gandhi tweeted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Looking forward to meeting and exchanging ideas with political and business leaders &amp; research institutions(2/2)</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/900940357575221249">August 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The visit comes after an invitation from the Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On the invitation of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be travelling to Oslo for a few days(1/2)</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/900940091299774465">August 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He will not attend the Congress party ally RJD&#39;s rally on Sunday. Congress has nominated senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to attend the &quot;BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao&quot;&nbsp;rally which will be held in Patna&#39;s Gandhi maidan.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Rahul Gandhi will meet business and political leaders in Norway

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday left for Norway where he is expected to meet political and business leaders. "Looking forward to meeting and exchanging ideas with political and business leaders & research institutions," Gandhi tweeted. Looking forward to meeting and exchanging ideas with political and business leaders & research institutions(2/2) — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) August 25, 2017 × The visit comes after an invitation from the Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs. On the invitation of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be travelling to Oslo for a few days(1/2) — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) August 25, 2017 × He will not attend the Congress party ally RJD's rally on Sunday. Congress has nominated senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to attend the "BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao" rally which will be held in Patna's Gandhi maidan.

Rahul Gandhi leaves for Norway, to skip RJD's 'BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao' rally

<p>Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi launched &quot;Indira canteen&quot; in Karnataka&#39;s Bengaluru on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>#IndiraCanteen became a top trending tag on micro-blogging site Twitter through&nbsp;the morning.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Indira Canteen is another step towards the &quot;Food for All&quot; commitment of the Congress. I congratulate the Karnataka Govt. for this initiative <a href="https://t.co/SlYoJwbeAH">pic.twitter.com/SlYoJwbeAH</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/897712262261202944">August 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The canteen will serve&nbsp;subsidised meals with&nbsp;breakfast priced at Rs 5 and lunch/dinner at Rs 10.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Break fast,lunch &amp;dinner in ?5 &amp; ?10 in K&#39;taka.Gr8 idea.Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/CMofKarnataka">@CMofKarnataka</a> fr <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiraCanteen?src=hash">#IndiraCanteen</a> to b inaugrtd by <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG">@OfficeOfRG</a> tdy</p>
&mdash; Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) <a href="https://twitter.com/sanjaynirupam/status/897704953766195201">August 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The model of the canteen is similar to &quot;Amma canteens&quot; in the state of Tamil Nadu which also serve affordable meals.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Karnataka: Hoarding placed outside the &#39;Indira Canteen&#39; launched by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Bengaluru <a href="https://t.co/phi5gOAAlL">pic.twitter.com/phi5gOAAlL</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/897706159561482245">August 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>In a speech, Gandhi said there are plans to open such canteens across the state.&nbsp;</p>


The canteen will serve?subsidised meals with?breakfast priced at Rs 5 and lunch/dinner at Rs 10

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi launched "Indira canteen" in Karnataka's Bengaluru on Wednesday. #IndiraCanteen became a top trending tag on micro-blogging site Twitter through the morning. Indira Canteen is another step towards the "Food for All" commitment of the Congress. I congratulate the Karnataka Govt. for this initiative pic.twitter.com/SlYoJwbeAH — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) August 16, 2017 × The canteen will serve subsidised meals with breakfast priced at Rs 5 and lunch/dinner at Rs 10. Break fast,lunch &dinner in ?5 & ?10 in K'taka.Gr8 idea.Congratulations to @CMofKarnataka fr #IndiraCanteen to b inaugrtd by @OfficeOfRG tdy — Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) August 16, 2017 × The model of the canteen is similar to "Amma canteens" in the state of Tamil Nadu which also serve affordable meals. Karnataka: Hoarding placed outside the 'Indira Canteen' launched by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/phi5gOAAlL — ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2017 × In a speech, Gandhi said there are plans to open such canteens across the state.

Rahul Gandhi launches 'Indira canteen' in Bengaluru

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was the subject of quite a few jokes after he stopped just short of describing &quot;Indira canteens&quot; as &quot;Amma canteens&#39;, a brainchild of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa.</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi, who was launching &quot;Indira canteen&quot; in Karnataka&#39;s Bengaluru on Wednesday, said &quot;That is the vision of the Amma....The Indira canteen.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;And soon, over the next couple of months, every single city in Bangalore, every single poor person in every single city in Bangalore will feel that in the state of Karnataka under Siddaramaih <em>ji&#39;</em>s government I simply cannot go hungry,&quot; Rahul Gandhi said referring to Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah&#39;s Congress government which governs the state.</p>

<p>Indira canteens, named after former prime minister Indira Gandhi, will offer breakfast at Rs 5 and lunch and dinner at Rs 10 per plate.</p>

<p>Initially called &quot;Namma canteens&quot;, the name of the subsidised food canteens was subsequently changed to &quot;Indira canteen.&quot;</p>

<p>Amma canteens, launched in 2013 by Jayalalithaa, offer affordable food - an Idli costs Rs 1 while a plate of sambar-rice costs Rs 5.</p>

<p>The launch of the Indira canteen comes ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections which are likely to take place next year.&nbsp;</p>


The Amma canteens were a brainchild of former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was the subject of quite a few jokes after he stopped just short of describing "Indira canteens" as "Amma canteens', a brainchild of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Rahul Gandhi, who was launching "Indira canteen" in Karnataka's Bengaluru on Wednesday, said "That is the vision of the Amma....The Indira canteen." "And soon, over the next couple of months, every single city in Bangalore, every single poor person in every single city in Bangalore will feel that in the state of Karnataka under Siddaramaih ji's government I simply cannot go hungry," Rahul Gandhi said referring to Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah's Congress government which governs the state. Indira canteens, named after former prime minister Indira Gandhi, will offer breakfast at Rs 5 and lunch and dinner at Rs 10 per plate. Initially called "Namma canteens", the name of the subsidised food canteens was subsequently changed to "Indira canteen." Amma canteens, launched in 2013 by Jayalalithaa, offer affordable food - an Idli costs Rs 1 while a plate of sambar-rice costs Rs 5. The launch of the Indira canteen comes ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections which are likely to take place next year.

Rahul Gandhi's slip of tongue: 'Amma....The Indira canteen'

<p>The Congress is facing an &quot;existential crisis&quot;, senior party leader Jairam Ramesh today said and pitched for &quot;a collective effort&quot; by party leaders to &quot;overcome&quot; the challenges it faced from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.</p>

<p>Ramesh also said that business as usual approach will not work against Modi and Shah and advocated for a flexibility in approach to make Congress relevant.</p>

<p>&quot;Yes, the Congress party is facing a very serious crisis,&quot; Ramesh told PTI in an interview.</p>

<p>He said the Congress had faced &quot;electoral crisis&quot; from 1996 to 2004 when it was out of power. The party had also faced &quot;electoral crisis&quot; in 1977 when it lost the elections held soon after the emergency.</p>

<p>&quot;But today, I would say that the Congress is facing an existential crisis. It is not an electoral crisis. The party really is in deep crisis,&quot; he said, when asked whether the threat of &quot;poaching&quot; of MLAs posed by the BJP in Gujarat had forced the party to transport its MLAs to Karnataka to ensure party leader Ahmed Patel&#39;s victory in the Rajya Sabha polls.</p>

<p>He, however, justified the Gujarat Congress&#39;s decision to send 44 of its MLAs to a resort in party-ruled Karnataka on July 29 to fend off the alleged &quot;poaching&quot; attempts by BJP, saying the saffron party had also &quot;transported&quot; MLAs in the past.</p>

<p>He said it was wrong for the Congress party to think that anti-incumbency will work automatically against the Modi-led government in the states being ruled by the BJP in the elections.</p>

<p>&quot;We have to understand we are up against Mr Modi, Mr Shah. And they think differently, they act differently, and if we are not flexible in our approach, we will become irrelevant, frankly,&quot; the Congress leader said.</p>

<p>He said the Congress party must also recognise that India has changed. &quot;Old slogans don&#39;t work, old formulas don&#39;t work, old mantras don&#39;t work. India has changed, the Congress party has to change,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>The former union minister hoped that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi would end the uncertainty over his taking over as the Congress president to make the party ready for crucial electoral battles in key states in 2018 and the Lok Sabha polls scheduled a year later.</p>

<p>&quot;I think in all probability, Rahul Gandhi will take charge (as Congress president) before the end of 2017,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>The senior leader lamented that he had been proved wrong in the past about his prediction about Rahul&#39;s assuming charge of the top party job.</p>

<p>&quot;I thought it will happen in 2015, it didn&#39;t happen. I thought it will happen in 2016, it didn&#39;t happen. So I am the wrong person to ask this question. I feel that it may happen before the end of 2017,&quot; Ramesh said.</p>

<p>He said he had &quot;no&quot; indication about the appointment of Rahul Gandhi as Congress president.</p>

<p>&quot;I have only expectation. That&#39;s all. In 2018 and 2019 you will be busy with elections. State elections, national elections...And this type of thing ...Uncertainty is not good,&quot; and urged the Gandhi scion to &quot;finish it off.&quot;</p>

<p>Asked if there is anyone in the Congress party to give a strong challenge to Modi in 2019 elections, Ramesh said, &quot;I have always maintained that it is the collective strength of the Congress that will overcome Mr Modi not some individual magic wand&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;It has to be a collective effort,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Ramesh took potshots at party leaders who still behave as if the party is still in power.</p>

<p>&quot;The sultanate has gone, but we behave as if we are sultans still. We have to completely redo the way of thinking, the way of acting, the way of projecting, the way of communicating.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;I think there is a lot of goodwill for the Congress, a lot of support for the Congress but people want to see a new Congress. They don&#39;t want to see old mantras, old slogans. We must recognise this is a big challenge. Huge challenge for us,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>He said Nitish Kumar&#39;s return to the Indian fold was a big setback for anti-BJP coalition in the country, describing it as a &quot;completely betrayal of the mandate&quot; given to the Mahagathbandhan by the people of Bihar.</p>

<p>Ramesh, who shares a personal rapport with Kumar, said, &quot;personally, I was aghast, astonished, deeply disappointed, but we have to move on and we don&#39;t have time.&quot;</p>

<p>Ramesh, representing Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha, expressed hope that the &quot;revival&quot; of Congress will happen in Karnataka next year as it had happened 40 years ago in 1978 in Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat in the state which gave political rebirth to Indira Gandhi who faced defeat in Rae Bareli in the elections held after the Emergency.&nbsp;</p>


Ramesh also said that business as usual approach will not work against Modi and Shah

The Congress is facing an "existential crisis", senior party leader Jairam Ramesh today said and pitched for "a collective effort" by party leaders to "overcome" the challenges it faced from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. Ramesh also said that business as usual approach will not work against Modi and Shah and advocated for a flexibility in approach to make Congress relevant. "Yes, the Congress party is facing a very serious crisis," Ramesh told PTI in an interview. He said the Congress had faced "electoral crisis" from 1996 to 2004 when it was out of power. The party had also faced "electoral crisis" in 1977 when it lost the elections held soon after the emergency. "But today, I would say that the Congress is facing an existential crisis. It is not an electoral crisis. The party really is in deep crisis," he said, when asked whether the threat of "poaching" of MLAs posed by the BJP in Gujarat had forced the party to transport its MLAs to Karnataka to ensure party leader Ahmed Patel's victory in the Rajya Sabha polls. He, however, justified the Gujarat Congress's decision to send 44 of its MLAs to a resort in party-ruled Karnataka on July 29 to fend off the alleged "poaching" attempts by BJP, saying the saffron party had also "transported" MLAs in the past. He said it was wrong for the Congress party to think that anti-incumbency will work automatically against the Modi-led government in the states being ruled by the BJP in the elections. "We have to understand we are up against Mr Modi, Mr Shah. And they think differently, they act differently, and if we are not flexible in our approach, we will become irrelevant, frankly," the Congress leader said. He said the Congress party must also recognise that India has changed. "Old slogans don't work, old formulas don't work, old mantras don't work. India has changed, the Congress party has to change," he said. The former union minister hoped that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi would end the uncertainty over his taking over as the Congress president to make the party ready for crucial electoral battles in key states in 2018 and the Lok Sabha polls scheduled a year later. "I think in all probability, Rahul Gandhi will take charge (as Congress president) before the end of 2017," he said. The senior leader lamented that he had been proved wrong in the past about his prediction about Rahul's assuming charge of the top party job. "I thought it will happen in 2015, it didn't happen. I thought it will happen in 2016, it didn't happen. So I am the wrong person to ask this question. I feel that it may happen before the end of 2017," Ramesh said. He said he had "no" indication about the appointment of Rahul Gandhi as Congress president. "I have only expectation. That's all. In 2018 and 2019 you will be busy with elections. State elections, national elections...And this type of thing ...Uncertainty is not good," and urged the Gandhi scion to "finish it off." Asked if there is anyone in the Congress party to give a strong challenge to Modi in 2019 elections, Ramesh said, "I have always maintained that it is the collective strength of the Congress that will overcome Mr Modi not some individual magic wand". "It has to be a collective effort," he said. Ramesh took potshots at party leaders who still behave as if the party is still in power. "The sultanate has gone, but we behave as if we are sultans still. We have to completely redo the way of thinking, the way of acting, the way of projecting, the way of communicating." "I think there is a lot of goodwill for the Congress, a lot of support for the Congress but people want to see a new Congress. They don't want to see old mantras, old slogans. We must recognise this is a big challenge. Huge challenge for us," he said. He said Nitish Kumar's return to the Indian fold was a big setback for anti-BJP coalition in the country, describing it as a "completely betrayal of the mandate" given to the Mahagathbandhan by the people of Bihar. Ramesh, who shares a personal rapport with Kumar, said, "personally, I was aghast, astonished, deeply disappointed, but we have to move on and we don't have time." Ramesh, representing Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha, expressed hope that the "revival" of Congress will happen in Karnataka next year as it had happened 40 years ago in 1978 in Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat in the state which gave political rebirth to Indira Gandhi who faced defeat in Rae Bareli in the elections held after the Emergency.

'The sultanate has gone, but we behave as if we are sultans still': Jairam Ramesh on Congress party

<p>Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi escaped unhurt after his car was pelted with stones during a visit to Gujarat, police said.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash">#Visuals</a> Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi&#39;s car attacked by unknown persons in Gujarat&#39;s Banaskanta <a href="https://t.co/AXsgCM4Tlq">pic.twitter.com/AXsgCM4Tlq</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/893436179793666048">August 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BJP goons attack Cong VP Rahulji&#39;s car in Lal Chowk, Dhanera, Banaskanta, Gujarat. Disgusting &amp; disgraceful: RS Surjewala, Cong on Twitter <a href="https://t.co/LebtcJgZRq">pic.twitter.com/LebtcJgZRq</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/893426997707259905">August 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The incident took place in the flood-affected town of Dhanera in Gujarat, a senior police official said, adding that the person responsible had been detained.</p>

<p>The Congress vice-president was earlier shown black flags by protesters while he was addressing people in&nbsp;Dhanera.</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi held the Gujarat&#39;s ruling party&nbsp;BJP responsible&nbsp;for the incidents and wrote on Twitter: Narendra Modi<em> </em><em>ji</em>&#39;s slogans, black flags and stones are not going to make us back down. We will put our entire power behind helping the people.</p>

<p>He added: Who ever recognises and understands the truth need not be afraid. Mahatma Gandhi has taught us this&quot;.</p>

<p>Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi accused the BJP &quot;goons&quot; of carrying out the &quot;dastardly&quot; attack.</p>

<p>He said that several cars in the convoy were damaged, their window panes smashed and an official of the Special Protection Group was injured in the incident.</p>

<p>&quot;All this because&nbsp;the Congress vice-president went to a flood affected area,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Members of the Youth Congress held protests in Delhi against the attack.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Delhi: Youth Congress holds protest against attack on Congress VP Rahul Gandhi&#39;s convoy in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash">#Gujarat</a>. <a href="https://t.co/8hOPnfG7fc">pic.twitter.com/8hOPnfG7fc</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/893467093936390146">August 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>As did members of the Karnataka Congress.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="in">Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress members protest against attack on Rahul Gandhi&#39;s car by unknown persons in Gujarat&#39;s Banaskantha <a href="https://t.co/rDmf7sogHq">pic.twitter.com/rDmf7sogHq</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/893459580952354817">August 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p><br />
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister&nbsp;Nitinbhai Patel said that Rahul Gandhi was offered a bullet-proof car by the state government but he chose to travel by a normal vehicle.</p>

<p>&quot;Like every visiting leader Rahul Gandhi was offered a bullet-proof car by state govt but he chose to travel by normal vehicle,&quot;&nbsp;,&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nitinbhai Patel said</p>

<p>Banaskantha Superintendent of Police Neeraj Badgujar said a man threw stones at the Congress vice president&#39;s car breaking its rear glass when he on his way from Lal Chowk to the helipad in Dhanera.</p>

<p>&quot;We have detained the person who threw stones on the vehicle of Rahul Gandhi,&quot; Badgujar said.</p>

<p>Before the stone-pelting incident, Rahul Gandhi was heckled by protesters while he was addressing people in Lal Chowk area.</p>

<p>He left the stage in a huff&nbsp;after protesters showed black flags to him.</p>

<p>Some of the people gathered at the spot also raised slogans hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</p>

<p>The Congress MLA from the area is a part of the legislators who have been flown to Bengaluru to avoid them crossing over to the BJP ahead of the August 8 Rajya Sabha polls.</p>

<p>Nitinbhai Patel said that people likely hurled black flags at Rahul Gandhi in protest against the Congress legislators moving to a resort in Bengaluru at a time of floods.</p>

<p>&quot;We are working but Congress MLAs of the area are at a resort in Bengaluru. May be it was a protest on it,&quot; the Gujarat deputy chief minister said about the attack on Rahul Gandhi.</p>

<p><br />
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The Congress vice president's car was pelted with stones during his visit to a flood-affected town in Gujarat

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi escaped unhurt after his car was pelted with stones during a visit to Gujarat, police said. #Visuals Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's car attacked by unknown persons in Gujarat's Banaskanta pic.twitter.com/AXsgCM4Tlq — ANI (@ANI_news) August 4, 2017 × BJP goons attack Cong VP Rahulji's car in Lal Chowk, Dhanera, Banaskanta, Gujarat. Disgusting & disgraceful: RS Surjewala, Cong on Twitter pic.twitter.com/LebtcJgZRq — ANI (@ANI_news) August 4, 2017 × The incident took place in the flood-affected town of Dhanera in Gujarat, a senior police official said, adding that the person responsible had been detained. The Congress vice-president was earlier shown black flags by protesters while he was addressing people in Dhanera. Rahul Gandhi held the Gujarat's ruling party BJP responsible for the incidents and wrote on Twitter: Narendra Modi ji's slogans, black flags and stones are not going to make us back down. We will put our entire power behind helping the people. He added: Who ever recognises and understands the truth need not be afraid. Mahatma Gandhi has taught us this". Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi accused the BJP "goons" of carrying out the "dastardly" attack. He said that several cars in the convoy were damaged, their window panes smashed and an official of the Special Protection Group was injured in the incident. "All this because the Congress vice-president went to a flood affected area," he said. Members of the Youth Congress held protests in Delhi against the attack. Delhi: Youth Congress holds protest against attack on Congress VP Rahul Gandhi's convoy in #Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/8hOPnfG7fc — ANI (@ANI_news) August 4, 2017 × As did members of the Karnataka Congress. Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress members protest against attack on Rahul Gandhi's car by unknown persons in Gujarat's Banaskantha pic.twitter.com/rDmf7sogHq — ANI (@ANI_news) August 4, 2017 × Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitinbhai Patel said that Rahul Gandhi was offered a bullet-proof car by the state government but he chose to travel by a normal vehicle. "Like every visiting leader Rahul Gandhi was offered a bullet-proof car by state govt but he chose to travel by normal vehicle," ," Nitinbhai Patel said Banaskantha Superintendent of Police Neeraj Badgujar said a man threw stones at the Congress vice president's car breaking its rear glass when he on his way from Lal Chowk to the helipad in Dhanera. "We have detained the person who threw stones on the vehicle of Rahul Gandhi," Badgujar said. Before the stone-pelting incident, Rahul Gandhi was heckled by protesters while he was addressing people in Lal Chowk area. He left the stage in a huff after protesters showed black flags to him. Some of the people gathered at the spot also raised slogans hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress MLA from the area is a part of the legislators who have been flown to Bengaluru to avoid them crossing over to the BJP ahead of the August 8 Rajya Sabha polls. Nitinbhai Patel said that people likely hurled black flags at Rahul Gandhi in protest against the Congress legislators moving to a resort in Bengaluru at a time of floods. "We are working but Congress MLAs of the area are at a resort in Bengaluru. May be it was a protest on it," the Gujarat deputy chief minister said about the attack on Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi escapes unhurt after car pelted with stones in Gujarat

<p>Taking a jibe at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on Tuesday stated that the former is responsible for beginning the process of dissolving the Congress Party and dynasty politics.</p>

<p>Addressing a gathering in Rohtak, Shah said, &quot;Gandhi<em> </em><em>ji</em><em> </em><em>ne</em><em> </em><em>kaha</em><em> </em><em>tha</em><em> </em><em>azadi</em><em> </em><em>ke</em><em> </em><em>turant</em><em> </em><em>baad</em><em> </em>Congress <em>ko</em><em> </em><em>bikhar</em><em> </em><em>jana</em><em> </em><em>dena</em><em> </em><em>chahiye</em>...<em> </em><em>khair</em><em> </em><em>wo</em> Gandhi <em>ne</em><em> </em><em>nhi</em><em> </em><em>kiya</em><em> ab koi</em> Gandhi<em> </em><em>kar</em><em> </em><em>rha</em><em> hai</em>&quot;. (Mahatma Gandhi had said that Congress should be disbanded after Independence. While that Gandhi couldn&#39;t do it, some other Gandhi is doing it now.)</p>

<p>Hailing the saffron party and their development all over the country, Amit Shah stated that after BJP coming to power the country has moved towards development.</p>

<p>&quot;Wherever the BJP Government has come to power, there has been development in that area. When the Congress Government once ruled, the country&#39;s growth rate drastically fell, only after BJP coming to power the growth rate has gone up. The Bharatiya Janata Party has done the task of liberating the country from the politics of dynasty and appeasement. Also a political party which is based on principles can develop the country,&quot; Amit Shah added.</p>

<p>On July 30, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had said that Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi was sinking the party because of the affection she has towards her son, Rahul Gandhi.</p>

<p>&quot;Sonia Gandhi is immersed in the affection towards her son, which has drowned the Congress party in the entire country,&quot; Vijay Rupani told ANI.</p>

<p>&nbsp;&quot;Today the condition of their party is getting worse as&nbsp;no one wants to accept their rule.&quot;</p>

<p>The Gujarat chief minister also accused the Congress of being insensitive and irresponsible by sending 40 MLAs to stay in a five-star hotel in Bengaluru at a time when Gujarat is facing floods.</p>

<p>Last week, the Congress accused the BJP of horse-trading in Gujarat and using &quot;money, muscle and state power&quot; to engineer defections, after six of its legislators resigned from the party to join the BJP.</p>

<p>The party on July 28 flew 44 of its MLAs to Bengaluru to stop more of them from switching over to the BJP.</p>

<p>The three Congress MLAs, Tejashreeben Patel, Balwantsinh Rajput and Prahlad Patel had resigned and joined the BJP.</p>

<p>Following this, three more MLAs, Thasra MLA Ramsinh Parmar, Balasinor MLA Mansinh Chauhan and Vansda MLA Chhana Chaudhary resigned on July 29.</p>

<p>(ANI)</p>


The BJP president also said that development was taking place only in the areas where the BJP was in power

Taking a jibe at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on Tuesday stated that the former is responsible for beginning the process of dissolving the Congress Party and dynasty politics. Addressing a gathering in Rohtak, Shah said, "Gandhi ji ne kaha tha azadi ke turant baad Congress ko bikhar jana dena chahiye... khair wo Gandhi ne nhi kiya ab koi Gandhi kar rha hai". (Mahatma Gandhi had said that Congress should be disbanded after Independence. While that Gandhi couldn't do it, some other Gandhi is doing it now.) Hailing the saffron party and their development all over the country, Amit Shah stated that after BJP coming to power the country has moved towards development. "Wherever the BJP Government has come to power, there has been development in that area. When the Congress Government once ruled, the country's growth rate drastically fell, only after BJP coming to power the growth rate has gone up. The Bharatiya Janata Party has done the task of liberating the country from the politics of dynasty and appeasement. Also a political party which is based on principles can develop the country," Amit Shah added. On July 30, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had said that Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi was sinking the party because of the affection she has towards her son, Rahul Gandhi. "Sonia Gandhi is immersed in the affection towards her son, which has drowned the Congress party in the entire country," Vijay Rupani told ANI. "Today the condition of their party is getting worse as no one wants to accept their rule." The Gujarat chief minister also accused the Congress of being insensitive and irresponsible by sending 40 MLAs to stay in a five-star hotel in Bengaluru at a time when Gujarat is facing floods. Last week, the Congress accused the BJP of horse-trading in Gujarat and using "money, muscle and state power" to engineer defections, after six of its legislators resigned from the party to join the BJP. The party on July 28 flew 44 of its MLAs to Bengaluru to stop more of them from switching over to the BJP. The three Congress MLAs, Tejashreeben Patel, Balwantsinh Rajput and Prahlad Patel had resigned and joined the BJP. Following this, three more MLAs, Thasra MLA Ramsinh Parmar, Balasinor MLA Mansinh Chauhan and Vansda MLA Chhana Chaudhary resigned on July 29. (ANI)

Amit Shah claims Rahul Gandhi 'dissolving' Congress

<p>Union textile minister and now the Information and Broadcasting minister, Smriti Irani, is back, taking jibes at opposition leaders.</p>

<p>A day after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi targeted the Centre by raking&nbsp;up issues like the Rohith Vemula suicide case, the Dadri lynching and demonetisation, Irani mocked him for &ldquo;all that he does&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Irani tweeted, &quot;However, thank you @officeofRG for all that you do. Sincerely from the BJP!????&quot;, showing off her sarcasm&nbsp;after a long time.</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi said yesterday that Vemula didn&rsquo;t commit suicide but was murdered for being a Dalit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I don&#39;t call it suicide; I call it murder. Rohith (Vemula) was crushed and murdered by the indignities he suffered,&quot; said Gandhi while speaking at a conference.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress vice-president also slammed the Centre by raising the Dadri lynching case.</p>

<p>&quot;Mohammad Akhlaq was butchered because they say he stole a calf. It was a lie. Instead of questioning his (Akhlaq) brutal killing they asked whether the meat in the fridge was mutton or beef,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before being shunted from the post of minister for Human Resource Development, Irani had made headlines for her verbal spats with opposition leaders. The most famous being the one with Mayawati just after Vemula&rsquo;s suicide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She had left members of the Rajya Sabha stunned with her response to Mayawati after the Dalit leader accused the BJP-led government of not taking action against those who &ldquo;pushed&rdquo; Vemula to commit suicide.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&ldquo;Who uses a child to play their political strategy, sir? Not just in this House but across the nation&rdquo;, Irani had said.<br />
<br />
&quot;There was a Dalit in the committee formed, why are you ignoring that Mayawati ji?&quot;</p>

<p>And then came the final dramatic jibe that shocked the floor.</p>

<p>&quot;Agar mere uttar se aap santusht na ho to main apna sar kalam karke aapke charnoon main chhod doongi.&quot; (if you are not satisfied with my response, I will cut of my head and place it at your feet).</p>

<p>Irani was given the additional charge of the I&amp;B ministry after Venkaiah Naidu stepped down to run for the vice-presidential election.&nbsp;</p>


Smriti Irani took to Twitter to respond to Rahul Gandhi's attack on the Centre over the Rohit Vemula suicide, the Dadri lynching, and demonetisation

Union textile minister and now the Information and Broadcasting minister, Smriti Irani, is back, taking jibes at opposition leaders. A day after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi targeted the Centre by raking up issues like the Rohith Vemula suicide case, the Dadri lynching and demonetisation, Irani mocked him for “all that he does”. Irani tweeted, "However, thank you @officeofRG for all that you do. Sincerely from the BJP!????", showing off her sarcasm after a long time. Rahul Gandhi said yesterday that Vemula didn’t commit suicide but was murdered for being a Dalit. "I don't call it suicide; I call it murder. Rohith (Vemula) was crushed and murdered by the indignities he suffered," said Gandhi while speaking at a conference. The Congress vice-president also slammed the Centre by raising the Dadri lynching case. "Mohammad Akhlaq was butchered because they say he stole a calf. It was a lie. Instead of questioning his (Akhlaq) brutal killing they asked whether the meat in the fridge was mutton or beef," he said. Before being shunted from the post of minister for Human Resource Development, Irani had made headlines for her verbal spats with opposition leaders. The most famous being the one with Mayawati just after Vemula’s suicide. She had left members of the Rajya Sabha stunned with her response to Mayawati after the Dalit leader accused the BJP-led government of not taking action against those who “pushed” Vemula to commit suicide. “Who uses a child to play their political strategy, sir? Not just in this House but across the nation”, Irani had said. "There was a Dalit in the committee formed, why are you ignoring that Mayawati ji?" And then came the final dramatic jibe that shocked the floor. "Agar mere uttar se aap santusht na ho to main apna sar kalam karke aapke charnoon main chhod doongi." (if you are not satisfied with my response, I will cut of my head and place it at your feet). Irani was given the additional charge of the I&B ministry after Venkaiah Naidu stepped down to run for the vice-presidential election.

Smriti Irani returns, with a bang and a tweet

<p>Amid speculation over a rift in the &quot;grand alliance&quot;&nbsp;in Bihar, chief&nbsp;minister Nitish Kumar Saturday met Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and is learnt to have discussed the current political situation.</p>

<p>Party sources said Nitish Kumar drove to Gandhi&#39;s Tughlaq Lane residence here and discussed the graft charges against Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad&#39;s son, Tejashwi Yadav.</p>

<p>Nitish Kumar is in the national capital to attend a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in honour of outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee.</p>

<p>His meeting with Rahul Gandhi comes at a time when there are differences over the continuation of Tejashwi in the state cabinet, which have posed a &quot;threat&quot; to the grand alliance between the JD(U), RJD and Congress in Bihar.</p>

<p>While the RJD chief has rejected demands for his son&#39;s resignation, Nitish Kumar is learnt to have reservations about Tejashwi&#39;s continuance as it dents his &quot;anti-corruption&quot; image.</p>

<p>Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) had also crossed swords with the opposition over its support to NDA&#39;s presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind. The opposition had pitched for Meira Kumar as its joint candidate for the presidential polls.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Nitish Kumar is in the national capital to attend a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in honour of outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee

Amid speculation over a rift in the "grand alliance" in Bihar, chief minister Nitish Kumar Saturday met Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and is learnt to have discussed the current political situation. Party sources said Nitish Kumar drove to Gandhi's Tughlaq Lane residence here and discussed the graft charges against Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad's son, Tejashwi Yadav. Nitish Kumar is in the national capital to attend a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in honour of outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee. His meeting with Rahul Gandhi comes at a time when there are differences over the continuation of Tejashwi in the state cabinet, which have posed a "threat" to the grand alliance between the JD(U), RJD and Congress in Bihar. While the RJD chief has rejected demands for his son's resignation, Nitish Kumar is learnt to have reservations about Tejashwi's continuance as it dents his "anti-corruption" image. Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) had also crossed swords with the opposition over its support to NDA's presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind. The opposition had pitched for Meira Kumar as its joint candidate for the presidential polls.

Nitish Kumar meets Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, discusses graft charges against Tejashwi Yadav: Sources

<p>Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said Narendra Modi is a &ldquo;weak PM&rdquo; for not bringing up the H-1B visa issue during his recent meeting with Trump and for accepting the United States&rsquo; reference to Jammu and Kashmir as &ldquo;Indian-administered Kashmir&rdquo;.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Gandhi posted screengrabs of two headlines from The Hindu newspaper on Twitter, with the caption: &ldquo;India has a weak PM&rdquo;.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The first headline reads, &ldquo;H-1B didn&rsquo;t figure in Modi-Trump talks.&rdquo; While the second headline reads, &ldquo;MEA accepts US use of &lsquo;administered Kashmir&rsquo;.&rdquo;<br />
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The headlines refer to Prime Minister&rsquo;s Narendra Modi&rsquo;s recent visit to the United States and his meeting with President Donald Trump.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">India has a weak PM <a href="https://t.co/NKbUO1iOHX">pic.twitter.com/NKbUO1iOHX</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/882497684501868544">July 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The US on June 26, referred to Kashmir as &ldquo;Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir&rdquo;, while designating Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as &ldquo;global terrorist&rdquo;.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Last week, India&rsquo;s foreign ministry said the term &ldquo;Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir&rdquo; only reiterated India&rsquo;s claim that Syed Salahuddin was responsible for cross-border terrorism against the country.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&ldquo;Similar term has been used in the State Department&rsquo;s country reports on terrorism brought out every year, including in the period 2010-2013, in the context of cross-border terrorism perpetrated on India. India&rsquo;s consistent position that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India is well known,&rdquo; foreign ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay had said.<br />
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Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said Narendra Modi is a 'weak PM' for not bringing up the H-1B visa issue during his recent meeting with Trump and for accepting the United States? reference to Jammu and Kashmir as ?Indian-administered Kashmir?

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said Narendra Modi is a “weak PM” for not bringing up the H-1B visa issue during his recent meeting with Trump and for accepting the United States’ reference to Jammu and Kashmir as “Indian-administered Kashmir”. Gandhi posted screengrabs of two headlines from The Hindu newspaper on Twitter, with the caption: “India has a weak PM”. The first headline reads, “H-1B didn’t figure in Modi-Trump talks.” While the second headline reads, “MEA accepts US use of ‘administered Kashmir’.” The headlines refer to Prime Minister’s Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States and his meeting with President Donald Trump. India has a weak PM pic.twitter.com/NKbUO1iOHX — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 5, 2017 × The US on June 26, referred to Kashmir as “Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir”, while designating Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as “global terrorist”. Last week, India’s foreign ministry said the term “Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir” only reiterated India’s claim that Syed Salahuddin was responsible for cross-border terrorism against the country. “Similar term has been used in the State Department’s country reports on terrorism brought out every year, including in the period 2010-2013, in the context of cross-border terrorism perpetrated on India. India’s consistent position that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India is well known,” foreign ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay had said.

India has a weak PM, tweets Rahul Gandhi

<p>Opposition Presidential candidate Meira Kumar filed her nomination papers on Wednesday with Congress president Sonia Gandhi by her side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also present were former prime minister Manmohan Singh and other senior Opposition leaders.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Opposition Presidential candidate <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MeiraKumar?src=hash">#MeiraKumar</a> files her nomination <a href="https://t.co/MGc1LJYmFo">pic.twitter.com/MGc1LJYmFo</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/879946339584319488">June 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Before filing her nomination papers, ANI reported, Kumar said it is upsetting to see casteism still eating away at India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;It is very upsetting, unfortunate that a country like India, which wants to advance in every aspect, is using a mentality which is so narrow and dividing, that too also when we are fighting for presidentship,&quot; ANI reported her as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter, saying Meira represents the values that bind the nation together.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Against the ideology of divisiveness she represents the values that bind us as a nation&amp;a ppl.Proud to have <a href="https://twitter.com/meira_kumar">@meira_kumar</a> ji as our candidate <a href="https://t.co/R7M5udN44y">https://t.co/R7M5udN44y</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/879937175516717057">June 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Against the ideology of divisiveness she represents the values that bind us as a nation&amp;a ppl.Proud to have @meira_kumar ji as our candidate,&quot; he wrote</p>

<p>The Presidential elections are set to take place on July 17 and counting will take place on July 24.&nbsp;</p>


Manmohan Singh and other senior Opposition leaders were also present

Opposition Presidential candidate Meira Kumar filed her nomination papers on Wednesday with Congress president Sonia Gandhi by her side. Also present were former prime minister Manmohan Singh and other senior Opposition leaders. Opposition Presidential candidate #MeiraKumar files her nomination pic.twitter.com/MGc1LJYmFo — ANI (@ANI_news) June 28, 2017 × Before filing her nomination papers, ANI reported, Kumar said it is upsetting to see casteism still eating away at India. "It is very upsetting, unfortunate that a country like India, which wants to advance in every aspect, is using a mentality which is so narrow and dividing, that too also when we are fighting for presidentship," ANI reported her as saying. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter, saying Meira represents the values that bind the nation together. Against the ideology of divisiveness she represents the values that bind us as a nation&a ppl.Proud to have @meira_kumar ji as our candidate https://t.co/R7M5udN44y — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 28, 2017 × "Against the ideology of divisiveness she represents the values that bind us as a nation&a ppl.Proud to have @meira_kumar ji as our candidate," he wrote The Presidential elections are set to take place on July 17 and counting will take place on July 24.

Opposition Presidential candidate Meira Kumar files nomination papers with Sonia Gandhi by her side

<p>Congress Meerut district president Vinay Pradhan was sacked from his post after he allegedly called Rahul Gandhi &quot;Pappu&quot; during his visit to Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh last week.</p>

<p>Vinay Pradhan, however, denied calling the Rahul Gandhi&nbsp;&quot;Pappu&quot;, which is used derogatorily in social media to describe the Congress vice-president. &nbsp;</p>

<p>As soon as Pradhan was sacked, the word went viral on social media with people reacting to the latest&nbsp;&quot;Pappu&quot; debacle.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">So much for famers concern huh !photo op in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mandsaur?src=hash">#Mandsaur</a> is done, Congi goons busy in riot politics Pappu ready for a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RahulItalianHoliday?src=hash">#RahulItalianHoliday</a><br />
?????? <a href="https://t.co/1d1fmBPUZk">pic.twitter.com/1d1fmBPUZk</a></p>
&mdash; Naina (@NaIna0806) <a href="https://twitter.com/NaIna0806/status/874565181011111937">June 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rahul-gandhi-briefly-arrested-en-route-to-mandsaur-16566">Also Read:&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi briefly arrested en route to Mandsaur</a></p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi had initially taken a train to reach&nbsp;Mandsaur, he&nbsp;suddenly changed his plan in the&nbsp;last leg of the journey riding pillion on a motorcycle to visit violence-hit Mandsaur which was reeling after police allegedly fired at farmers demanding better prices for their produce and farm loan waiver.</p>

<p>The Congress leader was briefly arrested en route to Mandsaur.</p>


Vinay Pradhan, however, denied calling the Rahul Gandhi?"Pappu", which is used derogatorily in social media to describe the Congress vice-president

Congress Meerut district president Vinay Pradhan was sacked from his post after he allegedly called Rahul Gandhi "Pappu" during his visit to Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh last week. Vinay Pradhan, however, denied calling the Rahul Gandhi "Pappu", which is used derogatorily in social media to describe the Congress vice-president. As soon as Pradhan was sacked, the word went viral on social media with people reacting to the latest "Pappu" debacle. So much for famers concern huh !photo op in #Mandsaur is done, Congi goons busy in riot politics Pappu ready for a #RahulItalianHoliday ?????? pic.twitter.com/1d1fmBPUZk — Naina (@NaIna0806) June 13, 2017 × Also Read: Rahul Gandhi briefly arrested en route to Mandsaur Rahul Gandhi had initially taken a train to reach Mandsaur, he suddenly changed his plan in the last leg of the journey riding pillion on a motorcycle to visit violence-hit Mandsaur which was reeling after police allegedly fired at farmers demanding better prices for their produce and farm loan waiver. The Congress leader was briefly arrested en route to Mandsaur.

Congress Meerut district president calls Rahul Gandhi 'Pappu', fired

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi criticised party leader Sandeep Dikshit for comparing Army Chief General Bipin Rawat with a goon on the street.</p>

<p>&quot;Dikshit&#39;s remark was absolutely wrong,&quot; Rahul Gandhi said while addressing a meeting of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) meeting.</p>

<p>&quot;The Indian Army works for the country and there is no need for any political leader to make comments against the Army chief,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Sandeep Dikshit, a former legislator and the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, had called the army chief a &quot;sadak ka gunda&quot;.</p>

<p>Sandeep Dikshit triggered widespread outrage for his remarks, for which he later apologised.</p>

<p>The BJP has also asked Congress President Sonia Gandhi to apologise.</p>


Rahul Gandhi criticised party leader Sandeep Dikshit for comparing Army Chief General Bipin Rawat with a goon on the street

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi criticised party leader Sandeep Dikshit for comparing Army Chief General Bipin Rawat with a goon on the street. "Dikshit's remark was absolutely wrong," Rahul Gandhi said while addressing a meeting of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) meeting. "The Indian Army works for the country and there is no need for any political leader to make comments against the Army chief," he added. Sandeep Dikshit, a former legislator and the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, had called the army chief a "sadak ka gunda". Sandeep Dikshit triggered widespread outrage for his remarks, for which he later apologised. The BJP has also asked Congress President Sonia Gandhi to apologise.

No need for politicians to pass comments against army chief: Rahul Gandhi

<p>Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who was on his way to violence-hit Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh, was briefly arrested by the police from Madhya Pradesh&#39;s Neemuch and subsequently released.</p>

<p>The Congress president sought a comprehensive inquiry into the killing of five farmers here in police firing and demanded &quot;martyr&quot; status for them.</p>

<p>He said the party would aggressively raise the issues concerning farmers in parliament and seek loan waiver for them.</p>

<p>He was on his way to meet the families of those who were killed in police firing in Mandsaur on Tuesday.</p>

<p>According to ANI, he&nbsp;spoke with the family members of the farmers who were killed on phone.</p>

<p>In an attempt to evade the heavy police presence to stop his entry into the violence-hit district, he rode pillion on a motorcycle. The incident is reminiscent of the 2011 Bhatta Parsaul agitation in Uttar Pradesh when Rahul Gandhi sneaked into the village riding pillion on the motorcycle of a local municipality member.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a> Congress VP Rahul Gandhi travels by road on a motorcycle to Madhya Pradesh&rsquo;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mandsaur?src=hash">#Mandsaur</a> <a href="https://t.co/CWoUq0zpWS">pic.twitter.com/CWoUq0zpWS</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/872706932938756097">June 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Madhya Pradesh home minister, Bhupendra Singh, accused Rahul Gandhi of indulging in politics.</p>

<p>&quot;He (Rahul Gandhi) has been detained. What was the emergency to go there now? He only wants to do politics,&quot;&nbsp;the home minister tweeted earlier.</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi said that the BJP-led Rajasthan and the Madhya Pradesh governments are preventing him from entering Madhya Pradesh and meeting the families of the farmers killed.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Raj &amp; MP Govts are doing their best to prevent me from entering MP &amp; meeting the families of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/farmers?src=hash">#farmers</a> killed in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mandsaur?src=hash">#Mandsaur</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/872716059383484416">June 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What law of the land says that it is illegal to stand in solidarity with farmers who were killed simply for demanding what is their right?</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/872718003380420608">June 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He was accompanied by senior Congress leaders including Kamal Nath, who is&nbsp;touted to become the next chief of the state Congress. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, he arrived at the Udaipur airport in Rajasthan from where he embarked on a road journey to visit the violence-hit district of Mandsaur to meet families of those killed in Tuesday&#39;s violence.</p>

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<p>Ahead of his visit to Mandsaur, violence again flared up as a toll plaza was vandalised and Rs 8-10 lakh were looted.</p>

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<p>Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh home minister Bhupendra Singh said that the five farmers, who were killed on Tuesday, died because of police firing.</p>

<p>Farmers in Mandsaur are on a protest demanding better prices for their produce and a farm loan waiver.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, five farmers were shot by police after which the protests intensified.</p>

<p>Protesters set on fire vehicles on Wednesday even as the authorities had clamped a round-the-clock curfew.</p>

<p>Protests were also reported from Ujjain, Neemuch and Dewas.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/protests-intensify-in-madhya-pradeshs-mandsaur-district-centre-deploys-five-additional-battalions-16517">Protests intensify in Madhya Pradesh&#39;s Mandsaur district, Centre deploys five additional battalions</a></p>

<p>The Indian government has decided to deploy five more battalions of the paramilitary force in Madhya Pradesh&#39;s Mandsaur district, ANI reported. The Centre had already sent six battalions to the area.</p>

<p>Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Congress of provoking violence in the state.</p>

<p>Speaking to ANI, BJP leader GVL Narsimha Rao said, &quot;This government had taken a series of decision towards the farmers and their demands. The Congress still cannot stand the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the state. The Congress is using this agitation of the farmers for themselves to provoke violence from within and giving their party a violent colour.&quot;</p>

<p>BJP leader and former minister Kailash Vijayvargiya stated that Congress needs to be blamed as they are grabbing focus in this violence.</p>

<p>&quot;Madhya Pradesh is a very peaceful place and will continue to be so. The BJP has always done well for the farmers and have also paid heed to all their demands. We are trying our best to curb the violence and also will resort to all their demands. The whole reason behind this situation is &#39;Congress&#39; who needs to be blamed as they are grabbing focus in this violence. The people in that village are smarter than Rahul and would also know his plan behind his visit,&quot; Vijayvargiya told ANI.</p>

<p>The chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh for those who have been injured.</p>

<p>The chief minister also urged the farmers to maintain calm.</p>

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<p>The strike that began on June 01 in the big western state of Maharashtra, with farmers dumping produce and milk on the streets to demand billions of dollars in debt forgiveness and better prices for their produce, soon spread to Madhya Pradesh (Reuters)</p>
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<p>(WION with inputs from agencies)</p>


Farmers in Mandsaur are on a protest demanding better prices for their produce and a loan waiver

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who was on his way to violence-hit Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh, was briefly arrested by the police from Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch and subsequently released. The Congress president sought a comprehensive inquiry into the killing of five farmers here in police firing and demanded "martyr" status for them. He said the party would aggressively raise the issues concerning farmers in parliament and seek loan waiver for them. He was on his way to meet the families of those who were killed in police firing in Mandsaur on Tuesday. According to ANI, he spoke with the family members of the farmers who were killed on phone. In an attempt to evade the heavy police presence to stop his entry into the violence-hit district, he rode pillion on a motorcycle. The incident is reminiscent of the 2011 Bhatta Parsaul agitation in Uttar Pradesh when Rahul Gandhi sneaked into the village riding pillion on the motorcycle of a local municipality member. #WATCH Congress VP Rahul Gandhi travels by road on a motorcycle to Madhya Pradesh’s #Mandsaur pic.twitter.com/CWoUq0zpWS — ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2017 × Madhya Pradesh home minister, Bhupendra Singh, accused Rahul Gandhi of indulging in politics. "He (Rahul Gandhi) has been detained. What was the emergency to go there now? He only wants to do politics," the home minister tweeted earlier. Rahul Gandhi said that the BJP-led Rajasthan and the Madhya Pradesh governments are preventing him from entering Madhya Pradesh and meeting the families of the farmers killed. Raj & MP Govts are doing their best to prevent me from entering MP & meeting the families of the #farmers killed in #Mandsaur — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 8, 2017 × What law of the land says that it is illegal to stand in solidarity with farmers who were killed simply for demanding what is their right? — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 8, 2017 × He was accompanied by senior Congress leaders including Kamal Nath, who is touted to become the next chief of the state Congress. Earlier, he arrived at the Udaipur airport in Rajasthan from where he embarked on a road journey to visit the violence-hit district of Mandsaur to meet families of those killed in Tuesday's violence. × × Ahead of his visit to Mandsaur, violence again flared up as a toll plaza was vandalised and Rs 8-10 lakh were looted. × Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh home minister Bhupendra Singh said that the five farmers, who were killed on Tuesday, died because of police firing. Farmers in Mandsaur are on a protest demanding better prices for their produce and a farm loan waiver. On Tuesday, five farmers were shot by police after which the protests intensified. Protesters set on fire vehicles on Wednesday even as the authorities had clamped a round-the-clock curfew. Protests were also reported from Ujjain, Neemuch and Dewas. Also Read: Protests intensify in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur district, Centre deploys five additional battalions The Indian government has decided to deploy five more battalions of the paramilitary force in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur district, ANI reported. The Centre had already sent six battalions to the area. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Congress of provoking violence in the state. Speaking to ANI, BJP leader GVL Narsimha Rao said, "This government had taken a series of decision towards the farmers and their demands. The Congress still cannot stand the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the state. The Congress is using this agitation of the farmers for themselves to provoke violence from within and giving their party a violent colour." BJP leader and former minister Kailash Vijayvargiya stated that Congress needs to be blamed as they are grabbing focus in this violence. "Madhya Pradesh is a very peaceful place and will continue to be so. The BJP has always done well for the farmers and have also paid heed to all their demands. We are trying our best to curb the violence and also will resort to all their demands. The whole reason behind this situation is 'Congress' who needs to be blamed as they are grabbing focus in this violence. The people in that village are smarter than Rahul and would also know his plan behind his visit," Vijayvargiya told ANI. The chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh for those who have been injured. The chief minister also urged the farmers to maintain calm. The strike that began on June 01 in the big western state of Maharashtra, with farmers dumping produce and milk on the streets to demand billions of dollars in debt forgiveness and better prices for their produce, soon spread to Madhya Pradesh (Reuters) × (WION with inputs from agencies)

Rahul Gandhi briefly arrested en route to Mandsaur

<p>Sonia Gandhi is likely to step down as Congress president paving the way for Rahul Gandhi to take over as the Congress president when the party holds its internal elections by October 15.</p>

<p>The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party&#39;s highest decision-making body, today approved the schedule for internal elections under which the party has to complete the exercise by October 15.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In her speech at the CWC meeting, Sonia Gandhi exhorted party members to strengthen the organisation and complete the organisational polls with &quot;speed and sincerity&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;We must strengthen our organisation. The ongoing organisational elections must be completed with the utmost speed and sincerity,&quot; she said at the meeting, ahead of the CWC approving the poll schedule.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Asked whether the issue of elevation of Rahul Gandhi was discussed at the meeting, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad replied in the negative.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;The schedule for organisational elections has been cleared by the CWC,&quot; Azad said, adding that Rahul&#39;s elevation was not specifically discussed.</p>

<p>The CWC members had in the last meeting in November unanimously expressed &quot;strong sentiment&quot; for Rahul&#39;s elevation for the first time and may take it further.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the November 7 meeting, all members, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior leader A K Antony, had made a strong pitch for Rahul to take over the reins of the party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress president has created a record by being at the helm of the 130-year-old organisation for nearly two decades since late Sitaram Kesri&#39;s ouster by the CWC in early 1998.</p>

<p>Rahul was appointed party vice president in January 2013 at Congress&#39;s brainstorming session in Jaipur.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body, today approved the schedule for internal elections under which the party has to complete the exercise by October 15

Sonia Gandhi is likely to step down as Congress president paving the way for Rahul Gandhi to take over as the Congress president when the party holds its internal elections by October 15. The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body, today approved the schedule for internal elections under which the party has to complete the exercise by October 15. In her speech at the CWC meeting, Sonia Gandhi exhorted party members to strengthen the organisation and complete the organisational polls with "speed and sincerity". "We must strengthen our organisation. The ongoing organisational elections must be completed with the utmost speed and sincerity," she said at the meeting, ahead of the CWC approving the poll schedule. Asked whether the issue of elevation of Rahul Gandhi was discussed at the meeting, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad replied in the negative. "The schedule for organisational elections has been cleared by the CWC," Azad said, adding that Rahul's elevation was not specifically discussed. The CWC members had in the last meeting in November unanimously expressed "strong sentiment" for Rahul's elevation for the first time and may take it further. At the November 7 meeting, all members, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior leader A K Antony, had made a strong pitch for Rahul to take over the reins of the party. The Congress president has created a record by being at the helm of the 130-year-old organisation for nearly two decades since late Sitaram Kesri's ouster by the CWC in early 1998. Rahul was appointed party vice president in January 2013 at Congress's brainstorming session in Jaipur. (PTI)

Rahul Gandhi likely to replace Sonia Gandhi as Congress president in October

<p>The Saharanpur district authorities Friday&nbsp;refused permission to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to visit the strife-torn district.</p>

<p>Rahul was scheduled to visit tomorrow Shabbirpur village, where Dalit houses were torched on May 5.</p>

<p>&quot;Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has not been given permission to visit Saharanpur,&quot; said Senior Superintendent of Police, Saharanpur, Bablu Kumar.</p>

<p>Bablu Kumar replaced SSP Subhash Chandra Dubey, who was suspended on May 24 in the wake of clashes in the district.</p>

<p>BSP chief Mayawati had recently toured the village and lashed out at the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government for &quot;failing to maintain law and order&quot; in the state.</p>

<p>Saharanpur has witnessed widespread caste-based clashes this month.</p>

<p>Violence first broke out in Saharanpur about 40 days ago following a procession to mark Ambedkar Jayanti. On May 5, a person was killed and 15 people were injured in clashes between two communities.</p>

<p>About a dozen police vehicles were set ablaze and 12 policemen were injured on May 9.</p>

<p>On May 23, another person was shot dead and two others were wounded, following which the government suspended the SSP and district magistrate and transferred the divisional commissioner and the deputy inspector general of police.</p>

<p>The Centre has sent 400 anti-riot police personnel to Saharanpur to help the state restore peace in the region.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


The Congress vice-president was scheduled to visit tomorrow Shabbirpur village, where Dalit houses were torched on May 5

The Saharanpur district authorities Friday refused permission to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to visit the strife-torn district. Rahul was scheduled to visit tomorrow Shabbirpur village, where Dalit houses were torched on May 5. "Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has not been given permission to visit Saharanpur," said Senior Superintendent of Police, Saharanpur, Bablu Kumar. Bablu Kumar replaced SSP Subhash Chandra Dubey, who was suspended on May 24 in the wake of clashes in the district. BSP chief Mayawati had recently toured the village and lashed out at the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government for "failing to maintain law and order" in the state. Saharanpur has witnessed widespread caste-based clashes this month. Violence first broke out in Saharanpur about 40 days ago following a procession to mark Ambedkar Jayanti. On May 5, a person was killed and 15 people were injured in clashes between two communities. About a dozen police vehicles were set ablaze and 12 policemen were injured on May 9. On May 23, another person was shot dead and two others were wounded, following which the government suspended the SSP and district magistrate and transferred the divisional commissioner and the deputy inspector general of police. The Centre has sent 400 anti-riot police personnel to Saharanpur to help the state restore peace in the region. (PTI)

Rahul Gandhi denied permission to visit strife-torn Saharanpur

<p>The new Congress president should be appointed through consensus and not election as it helps to bind the party and Rahul Gandhi is certainly up to it, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said today.</p>

<p>He also said that it was up to Sonia Gandhi whether she will continue as party chief for another term and the party will be happy if she decides so.</p>

<p>Amarinder, however, favoured projection of regional leaders in Congress and making them the party&#39;s face in each state ahead of assembly elections.</p>

<p>&quot;Elections are always bitter and consensus keeps the party together. There should be a consensus on the party president.</p>

<p>&quot;You don&#39;t have any bad blood. It is all happening in a happy way,&quot; he told PTI in an interview. The organisational election process within the Congress party is underway and the new party chief has to be elected by October 15.</p>

<p>On Sonia Gandhi, he said it will be entirely her call on whether to continue for another term till 2019.</p>

<p>&quot;She has worked very hard. If she wants to stay, I think the party will be too happy. If she wants to go, I think Rahul is in a position to take over... . As party Vice President, I have been dealing with him for 2-3 years, I find that he is certainly up to it,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>He, however, said his impression is that she feels she has done enough.</p>

<p>She has not had time off for the last 20 years, which is a long time, ever since she took over as party chief in 1997, Amarinder said.</p>

<p>Asked whether he prefers someone other that a member of the Gandhi family to lead the party, he said traditionally the Congress has been headed by a member of the Nehru Gandhi family.</p>

<p>From Motilal Nehru to Jawaharlal Nehru and then Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, except for some leaders in between, he said.</p>

<p>&quot;I am going to vote for Rahul. Who else do we have,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Asked what is holding Rahul back from taking over, the Punjab leader said he is already going through the process.</p>

<p>&quot;I think one must not write off Rahul. People are trying to write him off. They are trying to fob him off, calling him childish names. That is unnecessary. I think he is very perceptive and very decisive,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>On promoting regional talent within the party, Amarinder said every state has regional leaders unlike in the past and the Congress has to project them ahead of elections, as people these days vote for a face.</p>

<p>He said all states have regional parties and regional leaders and everyone knows if they win, who will be the chief minister. This was not the case earlier when it was Jan Sangh or Congress.</p>

<p>&quot;So you should have to have a face. Congress must come down to this point. If Himachal is tomorrow, then who is the face. This is very important today,&quot; he said and cited his own case.</p>

<p>Singh was named the CM candidate by the party ahead of the Punjab assembly election, in a departure from tradition.</p>

<p>&quot;You must project a leader in advance. Look at me, the whole campaign was focused on me. Projection is important,&quot; he said, adding that the Congress has no dearth of young leaders in every state and cited some names too.</p>

<p>&quot;You cannot write off Congress like this. I am sure other states must be having leaders also,&quot; he said.<br />
On the current state of affairs in the Congress, which has lost one election after another except Punjab, the state chief minister said he is not worried about the situation as the country moved in a cycle, which will soon reverse.</p>

<p>&quot;Today there may be an upswing for BJP, but who knows two years hence,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Amarinder said India has so many problems and people are hoping for somebody who does better and if one does not deliver, they choose the other the next time.</p>

<p>He also cited Arvind Kejriwala&#39;s example, whose party was rejected by voters in the civic polls in Delhi.</p>

<p>&quot;You see Mr Kejriwal being pushed out. Because they feel he has not delivered. So delivery is important,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Having spent around five decades in politics, the Punjab chief minister said he has seen ups and downs including the time when the Congress &quot;won only one state and one seat in the whole of North India of Karan Singh&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;This was when Indira Gandhi lost, Sanjay Gandhi and I also lost. Then suddenly in two years we bounced back again. I am not worried about this. This is a cycle that happens in this country,&quot; he said, recollecting times when Indira Gandhi was at the helm.</p>

<p>Amarinder, who also holds the post of Punjab Congress chief, has also asked Rahul Gandhi to relieve him from the party post saying he will not be able to do justice to the job.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


The Punjab chief minister said the new president of the party should be appointed through consensus and not election

The new Congress president should be appointed through consensus and not election as it helps to bind the party and Rahul Gandhi is certainly up to it, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said today. He also said that it was up to Sonia Gandhi whether she will continue as party chief for another term and the party will be happy if she decides so. Amarinder, however, favoured projection of regional leaders in Congress and making them the party's face in each state ahead of assembly elections. "Elections are always bitter and consensus keeps the party together. There should be a consensus on the party president. "You don't have any bad blood. It is all happening in a happy way," he told PTI in an interview. The organisational election process within the Congress party is underway and the new party chief has to be elected by October 15. On Sonia Gandhi, he said it will be entirely her call on whether to continue for another term till 2019. "She has worked very hard. If she wants to stay, I think the party will be too happy. If she wants to go, I think Rahul is in a position to take over... . As party Vice President, I have been dealing with him for 2-3 years, I find that he is certainly up to it," he said. He, however, said his impression is that she feels she has done enough. She has not had time off for the last 20 years, which is a long time, ever since she took over as party chief in 1997, Amarinder said. Asked whether he prefers someone other that a member of the Gandhi family to lead the party, he said traditionally the Congress has been headed by a member of the Nehru Gandhi family. From Motilal Nehru to Jawaharlal Nehru and then Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, except for some leaders in between, he said. "I am going to vote for Rahul. Who else do we have," he said. Asked what is holding Rahul back from taking over, the Punjab leader said he is already going through the process. "I think one must not write off Rahul. People are trying to write him off. They are trying to fob him off, calling him childish names. That is unnecessary. I think he is very perceptive and very decisive," he said. On promoting regional talent within the party, Amarinder said every state has regional leaders unlike in the past and the Congress has to project them ahead of elections, as people these days vote for a face. He said all states have regional parties and regional leaders and everyone knows if they win, who will be the chief minister. This was not the case earlier when it was Jan Sangh or Congress. "So you should have to have a face. Congress must come down to this point. If Himachal is tomorrow, then who is the face. This is very important today," he said and cited his own case. Singh was named the CM candidate by the party ahead of the Punjab assembly election, in a departure from tradition. "You must project a leader in advance. Look at me, the whole campaign was focused on me. Projection is important," he said, adding that the Congress has no dearth of young leaders in every state and cited some names too. "You cannot write off Congress like this. I am sure other states must be having leaders also," he said. On the current state of affairs in the Congress, which has lost one election after another except Punjab, the state chief minister said he is not worried about the situation as the country moved in a cycle, which will soon reverse. "Today there may be an upswing for BJP, but who knows two years hence," he said. Amarinder said India has so many problems and people are hoping for somebody who does better and if one does not deliver, they choose the other the next time. He also cited Arvind Kejriwala's example, whose party was rejected by voters in the civic polls in Delhi. "You see Mr Kejriwal being pushed out. Because they feel he has not delivered. So delivery is important," he said. Having spent around five decades in politics, the Punjab chief minister said he has seen ups and downs including the time when the Congress "won only one state and one seat in the whole of North India of Karan Singh". "This was when Indira Gandhi lost, Sanjay Gandhi and I also lost. Then suddenly in two years we bounced back again. I am not worried about this. This is a cycle that happens in this country," he said, recollecting times when Indira Gandhi was at the helm. Amarinder, who also holds the post of Punjab Congress chief, has also asked Rahul Gandhi to relieve him from the party post saying he will not be able to do justice to the job. (PTI)

New Congress president should be appointed through consensus: Amarinder Singh

<p>Another senior Congress leader -- former Delhi minister -- Dr AK Walia has threatened to resign from India&#39;s grand old party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He is reportedly miffed over the distribution of tickets for the upcoming Delhi municipal polls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Every time new committee is formed, they interview us like class 8 students. What is my use if they are unable to understand me?&quot; ANI reported him as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Will sit at home &amp; work.Will look for other ways to serve in Delhi,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Every time new committee is formed,they interview us like class 8 students. What is my use if they are unable to understand me-AK Walia,Cong <a href="https://t.co/p1idJaXeU3">pic.twitter.com/p1idJaXeU3</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/848791789272276992">April 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Will sit at home&amp;work.Will look for other ways to serve in Delhi: Senior Congress leader Dr AK Walia on if his grievances aren&#39;t addressed <a href="https://t.co/YtyMVWtLUM">pic.twitter.com/YtyMVWtLUM</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/848795492158984192">April 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>There have been a string of defections from the Congress recently.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The high-profile ones include former UP chief minister ND Tewari, former Karnataka chief minister SM Krishna, and former UP Congress chief Rita Bahugana Joshi.</p>

<p>New reports have murmured that the blame for the condition the Congress finds itself in -- and the reason for the defections -- is pointed at Congress vice president and heir apparent Rahul Gandhi.</p>

<p>(WION)&nbsp;</p>


'Every time new committee is formed, they interview us like class 8 students,' he said.

Another senior Congress leader -- former Delhi minister -- Dr AK Walia has threatened to resign from India's grand old party. He is reportedly miffed over the distribution of tickets for the upcoming Delhi municipal polls. "Every time new committee is formed, they interview us like class 8 students. What is my use if they are unable to understand me?" ANI reported him as saying. "Will sit at home & work.Will look for other ways to serve in Delhi," he added. Every time new committee is formed,they interview us like class 8 students. What is my use if they are unable to understand me-AK Walia,Cong pic.twitter.com/p1idJaXeU3 — ANI (@ANI_news) April 3, 2017 × Will sit at home&work.Will look for other ways to serve in Delhi: Senior Congress leader Dr AK Walia on if his grievances aren't addressed pic.twitter.com/YtyMVWtLUM — ANI (@ANI_news) April 3, 2017 × There have been a string of defections from the Congress recently. The high-profile ones include former UP chief minister ND Tewari, former Karnataka chief minister SM Krishna, and former UP Congress chief Rita Bahugana Joshi. New reports have murmured that the blame for the condition the Congress finds itself in -- and the reason for the defections -- is pointed at Congress vice president and heir apparent Rahul Gandhi. (WION)

Another Congress leader, Dr AK Walia, threatens to resign

<p>Shortly after the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, three-time chief minister of a Congress state told me that the Gandhis have become a liability for the Congress. What sounded shocking to me then seems like a cold reality today. Post 2012, every election where Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi campaigned intensively has been lost by the party. The Congress has only been able to retain or regain those states where the state leadership has been strong. This development has been co-terminus with the rise of Modi&rsquo;s brand of politics and Rahul&rsquo;s elevation in the Congress Party. The rise of the BJP also became the rise of Narendra Modi which not only electorally marginalised the Congress but also damaged the Gandhi brand. His campaign model ran down Rahul Gandhi hence his capacity to attract and electrify the voters.</p>

<p>This happened when Narendra Modi had more political baggage than the young Rahul Gandhi. Despite the disadvantage he faced, Modi managed to turn it around. He did this through opportunities inadvertently handed down to him by the Opposition and by projecting himself as an outsider to the corrupt world of the Delhi Durbar. In the process, Rahul Gandhi was successfully projected as a lazy leader who was a product of power and pelf in front of an aspirational India which he has not been able to shake off till date.</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi not only squandered away the opportunity to understand the humbling process of government work but also proved organisationally inept. Not only did his Youth Congress programme come under tremendous criticism but his transition, forced by his mother Sonia Gandhi, created deep fissures in the party. Married to the defeat of 2014 and 2017, one can safely say that Rahul Gandhi today is turning into a brand liability for the Congress as he fails to draw the voters out on his own account. The truth is that the dynasty is in decline. The truth is that majority of Indians aren&rsquo;t taking Rahul Gandhi seriously. It is failing to connect to a new India on its own accord. It is a difficult truth but stares the Congress in its face and it should worry everyone in the Congress a lot.</p>

<p>The sum and total of five polls is that Narendra Modi today stands as the only pan Indian leader who possesses the ability to move and mobilise multiple social constituencies. Even if concession is given to Rahul Gandhi that the Congress wrested a couple of states, its overall vote share continues to decline. Rahul&#39;s victories never gave him the legitimacy of a mass leader as people gave credit to the state leaders. This time, the family bastion in Uttar Pradesh (UP) was again swept away despite the alliance whereas all seats in Varanasi went into the BJP&rsquo;s pocket indicating that even the home turf of the Gandhis is in tatters.</p>

<p>To top it up is the issue of perception that no leader comes close to Modi. This image has been buffeted further by the economically-contested demonetisation which he used to the party&rsquo;s political advantage in Uttar Pradesh. This not only enhanced his stature but also made all adversaries look small, limited and regional in nature.</p>

<p>The UP results also made Rahul Gandhi fall into the trap of sectional politics. In the 2012 elections, &nbsp;he spoke about the issue of backward Muslims which failed miserably. This time also the same mistake was repeated, but in a different avatar.</p>

<p>Despite appealing to the developmental issues, the dog whisper campaign of the SP-Congress was that with the Muslim Yadav combine with the Congress, the upper-caste vote would do well. This was politically countered by the majority discrimination campaign by BJP which was spearheaded by the prime minister himself. Not only did it derail the alliance, but it also created a united Hindu vote which should worry Congress a lot.</p>

<p>Bluntly putting it, PM Modi has become the biggest Hindu mascot who makes his intention of not running after the minority votes very clear to the electorate. To say that the post-Godhra baggage of the PM has been forgotten by India as he speaks more on development would be to fool oneself. Modi represents a skillful combination of Hindutva and the right-of-center economy of the world. So, to say that the UP results showcase booth-management skills or caste management would be to fool oneself. The vote represents a majority vote against a minority veto which has resurfaced in a much more powerful manner after the 1990s. This is the reason why not a single Muslim candidate was fielded by the BJP in UP and similarly in Assam, where the Muslim population touches 30 per cent of the total votes. This is not limited to India. Through the world, a churn exists where the majority not only asserts itself but also wears its cultural and religious symbols dynamically in the political field.</p>

<p>It is in this contrast that Rahul Gandhi comes across as a perpetually struggling leader who has neither defined his idea nor politics. It is this reality that Rahul Gandhi needs to deal with. It will not resolve itself by visiting temples or talking about Saivism in public because it doesn&rsquo;t look organic.</p>

<p>Congress under Rahul Gandhi can either continue to fight the BJP to preserve its past and the family or can call for internal elections to embrace fresh leadership. Who knows that a tough fight to take over the party might reinvent Rahul Gandhi himself. It did wonders to Sonia Gandhi when she was challenged by Jitendra Prasad. It gave her the legitimacy in front of workers and from there she went on to challenge the BJP. She challenged them state by state and in the process rebuilt a broken party.</p>

<p>The Congress will have to walk the same road again but will have to start the process by addressing the issue of the family first. There is not much of a choice. Fix it or replace it with an outsider.<br />
<br />
(WION)</p>

<p>&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


A three-time chief minister of a Congress state told me in 2014 that the Gandhis have become a liability for the Congress

Shortly after the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, three-time chief minister of a Congress state told me that the Gandhis have become a liability for the Congress. What sounded shocking to me then seems like a cold reality today. Post 2012, every election where Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi campaigned intensively has been lost by the party. The Congress has only been able to retain or regain those states where the state leadership has been strong. This development has been co-terminus with the rise of Modi’s brand of politics and Rahul’s elevation in the Congress Party. The rise of the BJP also became the rise of Narendra Modi which not only electorally marginalised the Congress but also damaged the Gandhi brand. His campaign model ran down Rahul Gandhi hence his capacity to attract and electrify the voters. This happened when Narendra Modi had more political baggage than the young Rahul Gandhi. Despite the disadvantage he faced, Modi managed to turn it around. He did this through opportunities inadvertently handed down to him by the Opposition and by projecting himself as an outsider to the corrupt world of the Delhi Durbar. In the process, Rahul Gandhi was successfully projected as a lazy leader who was a product of power and pelf in front of an aspirational India which he has not been able to shake off till date. Rahul Gandhi not only squandered away the opportunity to understand the humbling process of government work but also proved organisationally inept. Not only did his Youth Congress programme come under tremendous criticism but his transition, forced by his mother Sonia Gandhi, created deep fissures in the party. Married to the defeat of 2014 and 2017, one can safely say that Rahul Gandhi today is turning into a brand liability for the Congress as he fails to draw the voters out on his own account. The truth is that the dynasty is in decline. The truth is that majority of Indians aren’t taking Rahul Gandhi seriously. It is failing to connect to a new India on its own accord. It is a difficult truth but stares the Congress in its face and it should worry everyone in the Congress a lot. The sum and total of five polls is that Narendra Modi today stands as the only pan Indian leader who possesses the ability to move and mobilise multiple social constituencies. Even if concession is given to Rahul Gandhi that the Congress wrested a couple of states, its overall vote share continues to decline. Rahul's victories never gave him the legitimacy of a mass leader as people gave credit to the state leaders. This time, the family bastion in Uttar Pradesh (UP) was again swept away despite the alliance whereas all seats in Varanasi went into the BJP’s pocket indicating that even the home turf of the Gandhis is in tatters. To top it up is the issue of perception that no leader comes close to Modi. This image has been buffeted further by the economically-contested demonetisation which he used to the party’s political advantage in Uttar Pradesh. This not only enhanced his stature but also made all adversaries look small, limited and regional in nature. The UP results also made Rahul Gandhi fall into the trap of sectional politics. In the 2012 elections, he spoke about the issue of backward Muslims which failed miserably. This time also the same mistake was repeated, but in a different avatar. Despite appealing to the developmental issues, the dog whisper campaign of the SP-Congress was that with the Muslim Yadav combine with the Congress, the upper-caste vote would do well. This was politically countered by the majority discrimination campaign by BJP which was spearheaded by the prime minister himself. Not only did it derail the alliance, but it also created a united Hindu vote which should worry Congress a lot. Bluntly putting it, PM Modi has become the biggest Hindu mascot who makes his intention of not running after the minority votes very clear to the electorate. To say that the post-Godhra baggage of the PM has been forgotten by India as he speaks more on development would be to fool oneself. Modi represents a skillful combination of Hindutva and the right-of-center economy of the world. So, to say that the UP results showcase booth-management skills or caste management would be to fool oneself. The vote represents a majority vote against a minority veto which has resurfaced in a much more powerful manner after the 1990s. This is the reason why not a single Muslim candidate was fielded by the BJP in UP and similarly in Assam, where the Muslim population touches 30 per cent of the total votes. This is not limited to India. Through the world, a churn exists where the majority not only asserts itself but also wears its cultural and religious symbols dynamically in the political field. It is in this contrast that Rahul Gandhi comes across as a perpetually struggling leader who has neither defined his idea nor politics. It is this reality that Rahul Gandhi needs to deal with. It will not resolve itself by visiting temples or talking about Saivism in public because it doesn’t look organic. Congress under Rahul Gandhi can either continue to fight the BJP to preserve its past and the family or can call for internal elections to embrace fresh leadership. Who knows that a tough fight to take over the party might reinvent Rahul Gandhi himself. It did wonders to Sonia Gandhi when she was challenged by Jitendra Prasad. It gave her the legitimacy in front of workers and from there she went on to challenge the BJP. She challenged them state by state and in the process rebuilt a broken party. The Congress will have to walk the same road again but will have to start the process by addressing the issue of the family first. There is not much of a choice. Fix it or replace it with an outsider. (WION)

The rise of Modi and the fall of Rahul Gandhi

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