Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat live updates: Congress will fight China not aggressively but by creating jobs

Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat LIVE updates: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi meeting the supporters during his visit to Dwarka in Gujarat. (PTI Photo/file)

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has begun his roadshow on the third day of his campaign in Gujarat. Gandhi started his day by offering prayers at the Chamunda Mataji Temple and will continue meeting with the party workers and locals during the day. He will also hold a special meeting with village women at Chobari Village in Surendranagar district.

Also called as Navsarajan Yatra, Gandhi started his three-day visit to the poll-bound Gujarat on Monday by visiting Dwarkadhish temple. From Jamnagar to Rajkot, the Congress vice-president interacted with locals from multiple villagers on issues like note ban, farm product prices and unemployment. Taking a jibe at the PM Modi’s famed Gujarat model of development he said, “Modi’s Gujarat model is a failure. There is need to reintroduce the old Amul model, which takes everybody along. Congress will form government here, we shall take everybody on board and Gujarat will show the way to the entire country one more time.” He also said that it is shameful that Sardar Patel’s statue is being cast in China and will have ‘Made in India’ inscribed on its back.

Also Read | Eye on Patidar vote, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi picks temple visits carefully

Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat LIVE updates:

3:06 pm: The first goal of Congress is to compete with China, not aggressively but by setting up factories and creating jobs, he added. India’s reputation in world didn’t build up overnight, Mahatma Gandhi made a beginning many years ago, Congress vice-president said.

3:04 pm: Targeting PM Modi-led NDA government, Rahul Gandhi said that India gives employment to only 400 new youths per day, while China gives to 40,000. Therefore anger is growing in India. Money that is being given to big industrialists should be given to small manufacturers.

2:48 pm: Solanki also alleged that the state government gave Rs 33,000 crore benefits to Tata but wasted Rs 20,000 crore of taxpayers money for gas exploration in KG basin.

2:47 pm: Targeting BJP, state Congress Chief Bharat Solanki said that the saffron party tried to cheat many but the people of Jasdan were wise as they elected Congress candidate Kunvarji Bavaliya. With the elections coming up soon, the BJP is giving all sorts of promises he added.

2:34 pm: Rahul Gandhi has reached Jasdan, Congress bastion in Rajkot district.

Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat LIVE updates: Congress vice-president in Jasdan (Express photo by Gopal Kateshiya)

1:42 pm: Rahul Gandhi asked women in Chobari village if 50 per cent reservation to women in Parliament will help them. The women roared a resounding ‘yes.’ He also asked women if those who get elected in powerful positions work according to what they think is proper or as directed by their husbands. Most of the women in the gathering agreed that husbands had the ultimate command.

12:47 pm: Rahul Gandhi has reached Chobari village and has started interacting with local women villagers. A woman complained to Gandhi about poor education levels in the government school that her sons go.

Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat LIVE updates: Rahul Gandhi in Chobari Village. (Express photo by Gopal Kateshiya)

12:06 pm:

#WATCH Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi offered prayers at Chamunda Mata temple in Chotila #Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/rsbRW6POTJ

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2017

12:01 pm: Rahul Gandhi is now on his way to Chobari village where he will interact with local women.

12:00 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s model in which MoUs worth thousands of crores are signed but nothing happens on ground will have to be changed, Rahul Gandhi said in Chotila

11:56 am: We forced Uttar Pradesh government to waive off farm loans. Congress governments in Karnataka and Punjab wrote off farmers debts, Rahul Gandhi said. He also added that this trend of waiving off farmers debt will continue in Gujarat, if Congress is voted to power.

11:40 am: What has happened to development in Gujarat? This is the first time that development has gone mad, says Rahul Gandhi. “Vikas gando thayo chhe” (development has gone mad) is a social media campaign mocking the claims of development by the BJP government.

11:39 am: Addressing the crowd, Gehlot reminds people about the assassinations of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi

11:27 am: Congress’ national general secretary Ashok Gehlot at Chotila meeting said that people feel pain even when a village sarpanch dies and that Congress leaders have made bigger sacrifices to keep India intact. Urging people to listen to their soul, Gehlot asked the people to give a chance to Congress

10:59 am: Scores of people have gathered at the base of Chotila hillock while Gandhi is in the temple office after offering his prayers at Chamunda temple.

Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat LIVE updates:  Crowd of people in Chotila (Express photo by Gopal Kateshiya)

10:50 am: Rahul Gandhi has come out from Chamunda temple, his first stop for the day.

10:44 am: Rahul Gandhi who reached at the top of Chotila hillock was welcomed by former Congress MP Kunvarji Bavaliya with a garland. While climbing up Chotila hillock, Gandhi said Namaskar in response to Chamunda maat ki jai by devotees.

Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat LIVE updates: Rahul Gandhi in Chotila (Express photo by Gopal Kateshiya)

10:23 am: Rahul Gandhi has reached Chotila.

10:15 am: 

The final day of Congress VP Rahul Gandhi’s Navsarjan Yatra begins from Chotila Temple, after two outstanding days. #NavsarjanWithRahul pic.twitter.com/Dc8m3MAicS

— Congress (@INCIndia) September 27, 2017

10:10 am:

Rahul Gandhi’s bus and rest of his convoy passes by Kuvabdva on NH 27 #LIVE #RahulInGujarat @IndianExpress @lynnmis pic.twitter.com/MKH8Bz8iKM

— Gopal Kateshiya (@gopalreports) September 27, 2017

10:00 am: Rahul Gandhi has started for Chotila in Surendranagar district.

9:50 am: Welcome to the live blog where we will bring you all the updates from Rahul Gandhi’s third day of campaign in poll-bound Gujarat.