Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat live updates: We will listen to your ‘mann ki baat’, Congress VP takes a dig at PM Modi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi waves at the crowd during a rally in his first phase of Navsarjan Yatra in Gujarat. (File – PTI Photo)

Beginning the second leg of his Navsarjan Yatra in poll-bound Gujarat, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit various districts of the state on Monday. Starting with Ahmedabad, Rahul has various programmes lined up in Kheda, Anand and Vadodara today.

Rahul Gandhi’s first phase of Navsarjan Yatra ended on September 29. During his three-day roadshow in the state, Gandhi visited Dwarka, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Jetpur and other cities. He addressed rallies and made stops at many villages to interact with the locals. Gandhi came under fire from the Opposition for visiting temples during the yatra.

Here are the live updates on Rahul Gandhi’s Gujarat visit:

2:40 pm: Gandhi also visited the birth place of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Kheda.

2.25 pm: During Congress’ rally at Mandi on Saturday, Rahul declared CM Virbhadra Singh as the party’s next chief ministerial face for the poll-bound state. Rahul showered praise on Virbhadra, terming him a champion of Himachal’s development, which he said surpassed Modi’s “Gujarat model” in facts, figures and visibility. “You say (Virbhadra) Raja nahin faqir hai… I say Virbhadra Singh has put his heart and soul in taking development to every nook and corner of the state. He has measured every inch of these mountains and terrains in chappals (shoes). The six-time Chief Minister will now be a seventh-time CM. He enjoys the backing of the party,” Rahul announced.

2.00 pm: Union Minister Giriraj Singh targeted Rahul Gandhi on Sunday by saying he does not have knowledge of the history or geography of the country. “Like film actors, Rahul is fond of reading written scripts. He does not have knowledge of history and geography of India,” Singh, the minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises, told reporters. Singh claimed that the opposition did not have any issues left and accused Rahul Gandhi of falsely claiming in foreign countries that job opportunities had decreased in the country. “The reality is that under the PM Mudra scheme, 9 crore persons have got jobs,” Singh said.

1.40 pm: Rahul is expected to take over as the party’s president by the end of this month. The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee on Saturday passed a resolution urging Rahul Gandhi to take over as the party president. The DPCC passed another resolution authorising Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president to nominate the president of the party’s Delhi unit. All the state units have been asked to complete the election exercise by October 10. Ever since Sonia Gandhi took over as the president nearly two decades ago, the party has not seen elections in the true sense at any level.

1.15 pm: During the first phase of Navsarjan Yatra, Gandhi engaged in some symbolism and tried to portray himself as an approachable leader before the crowd. He rode a bullock cart, sat on a dholiya (a traditional charpoy) had tea in a tansali (a utensil made of brass and bronze) with the family of a Congress leader, and closely interacted with villagers and sarpanches.

Rahul Gandhi’s schedule for Monday. (Source – Twitter/@INCIndia)

12.55 pm: Mocking PM Modi’s monthly radio address to the nation Mann ki Baat, the Congress vice-president said, “Hum apko apne mann ki baat nahi batayenge, hum apki mann ki baat sunenge (We won’t tell you how we feel, we will listen to what you have to say.)

12.35 pm: Demanding a clarification, the official Twitter handle of Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Modi ji, Jay Shah ‘jyaada’ kha gaya. Aap chowkidaar the ya bhaagidaar, kuch to boliye (Modi ji, Jay Shah has eaten extra. Were you a gatekeeper or a partner, at least say something).” The tweet is in reference to a media report which said the turnover of a company owned by BJP President Amit Shah’s son increased 16,000 times in the year following the election of Narendra Modi as prime minister and the elevation of Shah to the post of party president.

मोदीजी, जय शाह- ‘जादा’ खा गया|
आप चौकीदार थे या भागीदार? कुछ तो बोलिए

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 9, 2017

12.15 pm: Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi said, “Gujarat knows that Narendra Modi’s Gujarat Model has failed.” “Gujarat mein vikaas ko kya hua? Ye kaise pagal hua? Ye jhooth sun sun ke pagal ho gaya hai (What happened to development in Gujarat? Lies have led to its failure,” he added.

11.55 am: Rahul Gandhi is now addressing a public meeting in Kheda. “If Congress comes to power here, it will function as your government. Even small decisions will be taken after consulting you,” he said, while addressing the people.

Rahul Gandhi while addressing a public meeting in Kheda. (Source – Twitter/@ani)

11.40 am: Gandhi is scheduled to depart for Kheda district from Ahmedabad. In Kheda, Gandhi will first address a corner meeting at Khatraj Chokdi. He will then meet Amul Plant workers in Jibhaipura, following which he is scheduled to visit Santram Mandir and hold another corner meeting at Nadiad.

11.20 am: The Congress vice president has reached Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, where he was greeted by Congress spokesperson and MLA from Abdasa constituency, Shaktisinh Gohil. Gandhi will now proceed to Hathijan Circle, where he will be welcomed by party workers.

Rahul Gandhi welcomed by Shaktisinh Gohil ay Ahmedabad airport. (Source – Twitter/@ani)

11.10 am: Rahul Gandhi’s itinerary for today includes a meeting with Amul Plant workers in Kheda, an interaction with representatives of Mahila Milk Cooperatives in Anand and one with traders, entrepreneurs and professionals in Vadodara. He is also scheduled to visit Sardar Patel’s birthplace, Nadiad.