Sonia Gandhi put food bill over her health: Rahul Gandhi tells in Shahdol (Madhya Pradesh)

Continuing his attack on BJP government in the state, the Congress Vice President assured, ?They talk about building roads, swanky cars travel on those roads and that is what they call development. When Congress comes to power in this state, no matter who the Chief Minister is, tribal and the women will be respected and if someone disrespects them, we will deal with them?. Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh does not respect its people.

Referring the food Security Bill, the Congress leader said ?No one in the country will go hungry after the food security bill is implemented. Everyone, immaterial which caste or religion they belong to, is guaranteed food grains at Rs. 1 - and Congress Party gives you that guarantee. We do it as we understand your hunger and your difficulties?.

She also narrated a personal experience to prove how committed Sonia Gandhi was to get the Food Security Bill passed in the Parliament. ?During the debate of this historic Bill, I noticed that my mother is unwell.. She refused to leave Parliament. I asked her why. She told me that she put in lots of efforts to pass this historic Food Security Bill and she would never leave the House till she votes in Parliament in favour of the Bill,? he said. ?... during the voting, I noticed that she was feeling more uncomfortable... I dragged her to a hospital... When we were taking her to hospital, my mother was unable to breathe properly and she had tears in her eyes. I asked her what happened. She said that she had fought for the bill and wanted to vote on it; but she couldn't? continued Rahul Gandhi and asserted ?This is called respecting the feelings?.

Rahul Gandhi countered the claims of the development with records. ?When we talk about building roads, let us just examine the records. 2650 km roads were built by NDA in 5 years; but please note that 9570 km was built by the UPA in its 5 years... it is clear that Congress performed better. Shivraj Singh Chouhan had come to us and talked about power plants at four places here. But how much electricity did you get? Zero watts: state government has not even started the projects?. ?On one side they (BJP) talk about development, but people get nothing. When we talk about right to food, Land Acquisition Bill and Right to Information, they (the BJP) allege that we waste the money?, added the Congress MP.

Reaching out to the youth Rahul Gandhi assured that the Congress will give a government of youth in Madhya Pradesh. ?We have to transform Madhya Pradesh. The development in the state is stuck now. I see one problem with the people here. We want your government. Only Congress party can do it? he argued. ?I just want to tell you one thing. You see the women and the youth here. I see that there is no adequate representation for women, youth and adivasis in assemblies and parliament. The country will not achieve development until we achieve success in this. I assure you that I am with you in this battle... we have familial relation - it isn't a political connection, these are ties of respect and love and will remain forever? assured Rahul Gandhi while concluding his address and the huge crowd acknowledged it with loud applauds.

Rahul Gandhi is also scheduled to address yet another public meeting at Gwalior. He also will meet the injured during the recent stampede in a Madhya Pradesh temple at Datia.

Full text of Rahul Gandhi's speech at Shahdol (Madhya Pradesh)

Sorry for being late. I seek your pardon for it.

There are lots of tribal women and youth here. We talk about government and good governance. I feel the most important thing for any government is to respect its people. Has this government in your state, which has been in power for the past 10 years, respected the tribal? Have you heard about UNICEF? Recent UNICEF report says there are more hungry people in Madhya Pradesh like in Africa. These people (in BJP) do not know that when there is hunger, there can be no development

The opposition parties don't understand that there can be no development when people are hungry. They build roads, swanky cars travel on those roads and that is what they call development. When Congress comes to power in this state, no matter who the Chief Minister is, tribal and the women will be respected and if someone disrespects them, we will deal with them.

When we talk about giving respect to the people, I want to share one incident happened in my life. I beg your sorry for sharing this as it is related to my mother.

BJP tried to block the food security bill for years and we fought for years. It was a historic bill that was passed in India - no one in the country will go hungry after the bill was implemented. Everyone, immaterial which caste or religion they belong to, is guaranteed food grains at Rs. 1 - and Congress Party gives you that guarantee. We do it as we understand your hunger and your difficulties.

During the debate of this historic Bill, I noticed that my mother is unwell. I was closely watching her anxiously. Suddenly I noticed that she left the Parliament hall along with Minister Shailaja ji. I was wondered why she left at this moment when Parliament was debating the bill. I also just went out to see what is happening. I saw my mother and Shailaja ji were sitting in a hall in the Parliament. .. I want the Adivasi youth here also should be able to reach those rooms in Parliament.. I promise you that I will make that happen.. I will ensure that lots of tribal youth reach Parliament..

When I went to the room, I saw my mother and Sheilaja ji were talking. I asked them what is going on.. Sheilajaji told me that my mother was not feeling well. I know my mother; she never tells us when she is not feeling well. She hides it from us. I, therefore, told my mother to go to hospital if she felt uncomfortable. I took her to Kamal Nath ji's room.

My mother refused to leave Parliament. I asked her why. She told me that she put in lots of efforts to pass this historic Food Security Bill and she would never leave the House till she votes in Parliament in favour of the Bill. Kamal Nath Ji also told her that we have enough numbers to get the bill passed and there is nothing to worry. But she was adamant. I was upset that she did not want to leave. I tried stopping her but she again went inside Parliament after a brief medical check-up. I felt angry and it was quite natural. I too went inside and started watching her more frequently.

I suddenly noticed that she was feeling more uncomfortable. Voting was going on. She went out again. I also escorted her. Noticing that she is not feeling good, I was adamant that she should go to a hospital. In fact, I dragged her to a hospital. I called up Priyanaka and told her about mother's illness and refusal to leave the House.

When we were taking her to hospital, my mother was unable to breathe properly and she had tears in her eyes. I asked her what happened. She said that she had fought for the bill and wanted to vote on it; but she couldn't. This is called respecting the feelings.

We talk about food now. I have a mother and there are lakhs of mothers in our country who wish that their children should never sleep hungry. They want jobs for their children. I want to initiate a new politics here. I want to go to the poor, visit their houses, share their meals, respect them and interact with them to know their difficulties. I want these people to reach at higher places.

The opposition parties talk about development, shining roads and good hotels sitting inside their AC rooms. But these people don't want the aam admi, dalits, adivasis to not get into their AC rooms, in Lok Sabha , Assembly or in Panchayats. Who is the loser? It is not Rahul Gandhi but our Hindustan.

When we talk about building roads, let us just examine the records. 2650 km roads were built by NDA in 5 years; but please note that 9570 km was built by the UPA in its 5 years. The BJP government wants to talks about development; but now it is clear that Congress performed better. Shivraj Singh Chouhan had come to us and talked about power plants at four places. But how much electricity did you get? Zero watts: state government has not even started the projects.

On one side they talk about development, but people get nothing. When we talk about right to food, Land Acquisition Bill and Right to Information, they (the BJP) allege that we waste the money.

So many Adivasis and poor farmers lost their lands without getting any compensation. It was the Congress who fought for you. We fought for you in Bhatta-Parsaul, Aligarh and here. Earlier, state governments used to forcibly grab the lands of poor Adivasis or farmers. But now, after the Land Bill, no one can acquire lands forcibly and if the land is to be acquired, proper compensation, 4 times the marker price, must be paid to the land owners.

I see a lot of youth in front of me. I want to ask you whether you get jobs here. No. Did you get education? No. This is the situation here. But did the government take any measures to tackle these menaces? No... So, I just want to request you just one thing.

The Congress will change the state; we will empower the youth of the people and will form a government of youths here. We will form a government that respects the poor, Dalits and Tribals. We will ensure their rights in their lands and we will guarantee food for them.

We have to transform Madhya Pradesh. The development in the state is stuck now. I see one problem with the people here. We want your government. Only Congress party can do it. Thank you very much for coming here to listen me.

You want me to speak more? (crowd says YES) I will be in trouble in Gwalior and I have to go to Datia too.

I just want to tell you one thing. You see the women and the youth here. I see that there is no adequate representation for women, youth and adivasis in assemblies and parliament. The country will not achieve development until we achieve success in this. I assure you that I am with you in this battle... we have familial relation - it isn't a political connection, these are ties of respect and love and will remain forever.

Article Reference :- Rahul Gandhi

Related Articles - rahul gandhi, sonia gandhi, priyanka gandhi, news, congress, congress party,

Email this Article to a Friend! Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box! Subscribe for free today!