Sonia Gandhi at Barnala, Punjab attacks BJP-SAD government

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi visited Barnala, Punjab address election rally. While speaking to the masses she lashed out at BJP-SAD government for their bad governance. "One side you have Congress's ideology which works for farmer, poor, dalit, tribal, women, downtrodden and every sector of the society. On the other side you BJP's and Akali Dal's ideology which supports extremism, hatred and anger. They only want to grab the power," said Sonia Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi: We opened the doors for the youth in NSUI and Youth Congress

While addressing an impressive rally organised by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) inside the Punjab University campus in Chandigarh on Thursday, Congress General secretary Rahul Gandhi urged the youth to join politics to clean the political system. Rahul Gandhi said that the NSUI and the Youth Congress were the only ones to give youths a chance to enter politics. "Doors of politics were closed for you. We opened them in NSUI and Youth Congress. Today, lakhs of youths, who do not have any relatives in politics, are in our organization. When we talked of elected NSUI and Youth Congress in Punjab, other parties laughed at us. We did it and showed to them not only in Punjab but all over India," asserted the Congress MP.

Rahul Gandhi: Opposition wants to halt UPA's welfare policies

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the opposition’s only agenda is to halt welfare polices and oppose every pro-poor move of the UPA government. The Congress leader was addressing a rally organised by the National Students Union of India (NSUI) at Punjab University campus in Chandigarh. Winding up his two-day visit to Punjab, Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the BJP-led NDA, saying they were opposing the policies of the Congress, meant to take the country forward, without basis. "Our government brought FDI. Its meaning is giving the farmer what he deserves; his rightful share. When the BJP-led NDA government was in at the Centre, they were not opposed to FDI. When we (Congress) did it, they are opposing it," said Rahul Gandhi. "We brought MNREGA and land acquisition bill, they have opposed it. They want to stop work. Ask them what you want to do, they will not reply. What Congress wants to do, they want to stop. Because they know that if they let us work, we will change this country. But we will not stop," declared the young Congress MP.

Rahul Gandhi: Wherever there is development, there are women in active politics

While addressing an impressive rally organised by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) inside the Punjab University campus in Chandigarh on Thursday, Congress General secretary Rahul Gandhi urged the girls to join politics to take part in the process of development. Pointing towards the girl students who were present at the meeting in large numbers, the Congress General Secretary requested them to join politics by saying “Wherever there is development, there are women in active politics”. “I wish there would be a woman Chief Minister in Punjab within the next 15 years” he added.

Rahul Gandhi: India is going to be 21st century’s Saudi Arabia in terms of human resources potential

While addressing an impressive rally organised by the National Students’ Union of India inside the Punjab University campus in Chandigarh on Thursday, Congress General secretary Rahul Gandhi urged the youth to join politics to clean the political system. Striking an emotional chord with the youngsters Rahul Gandhi said that the twenty-first century was going to be the century of India with tremendous human resource potential. “India is going to be the 21st century Saudi Arabia in terms of human resources” he said. Rahul Gandhi said that recently he had met some of the ambassadors of Europe who told him that while the twentieth century was the century of Saudi Arabia as it controlled the oil, the twenty-first century was going to be India’s as it had tremendous human resource potential. Focussing the girls who were present at the meeting in large numbers, the Congress General Secretary urged them to join politics by saying “Wherever there is development, there are women in active politics”. “I wish there would be a woman Chief Minister in Punjab within the next 15 years” he added. Referring to the opposition parties’ objection to the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector, Rahul Gandhi said, “We brought in FDI to ensure the right of the farmers to get adequate price for their products. BJP and NDA were not against FDI when they were in power at the Centre. When we implemented it, they oppose it” “When we brought in MNREGA and talked about new land acquisition bill, they opposed it. They, in fact, want to create obstacles. Because they know that if the Congress is allowed to go ahead these development policies, it will change the entire system positively” he said further adding, “They just want to stop us from taking pro-poor measures. “But no one can stop us. We have the support of the youth- the strength and future of our country. Just help development by joining us. The youngsters who have just joined the NSUI are the future of our nation,” said the Congress leader amidst cheers from the crowd.