Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat Day 2 highlights: 'Were you chowkidar or bhagidar?' Congress V-P asks Modi over Jay Shah controversy

'Modi betrayed common man's hope'

Congress vice-president said that the BJP government had promised development funds for tribal areas, jobs for the youth and irrigation water for the farms. He added that the prime minister has failed on all these fronts and betrayed the people with hollow talks. 

Rahul again attacks Modi, asks him to speak on Jay Shah row

Rahul Gandhi more interested in visiting Italy than Amethi: Yogi Adityanath

As Rahul Gandhi was on the second day of his tour in Gujarat, BJP top brass targetted the Congress V-P from his Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh. 

Yogi Adityanath accused him of being more interested in Italy than in the people of his parliamentary constituency Amethi. He also taunted the Amethi MP for not coming to his parliamentary constituency often and rather visiting Italy more.

Amit Shah-Rahul Gandhi trade barbs in each other's home turfs

Ever since a story published in The Wire has raised questions over the the business dealings of Amit Shah's son, Rahul Gandhi hasn't been at a public meeting where he did not bring up the issue. In the form of subtle retorts, or sharp jibes, the prolific rise of Jay Shah's business has spiced up the Gandhi scion's speech in the BJP chief's home state. 

Meanwhile, Shah, who was in Amethi, didn't spare Gandhi at his constituency. "Instead of making a mockery of development in Gujarat, Rahul should focus on development in Amethi," Shah said. 

Rahul Gandhi visited Khadi India showroom in Karjan and interacted with people

Image Courtesy: INC Gujarat Facebook page

Meanwhile... Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi over his comment on RSS

BJP leader Anandiben Patel demanded an apology from the Congress vice-president over his comments on women's participation in RSS shakhas.

Gandhi had apparently asked the people if they have ever seen any women in shakhas. "Their organisation is the RSS. How many women are there in the RSS... Have you  ever seen any woman in shakhas wearing shorts?" he had said in a sarcastic tone.

Patel, however, took exception to the comment and sought an apology from the party for the Gandhi scion's 'inappropriate and insulting comments.' She also advised Gandhi to do a google search to find out facts, adding that RSS has had separate branches for women since a long time. 

'Gujarat will play a leading role in nation's progress'

Gujarat is set to see a pitched battle in this year's polls as the Congress party is going all out to woo voters playing up the anti-incumbency factor in the prime minister's home turf. Rahul Gandhi, in his Navsarjan Yatra, leaves no opportunity to criticise the BJP-led government's policies. 

Addressing a rally in Dabhoi, Gandhi said that the Gujarat was teh land thatt gave India the 'white revolution' and leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. He said that if lead in the right way, the state had the potential to lead the entire nation on the path to progress. 

'Congress party will ensure you get your rights'

Rahul Gandhi hit out at Narendra Modi over farm crisis in India. He said that farmers are commiting suicide all across the country but the Centre was ignornt towards their plight. 

Claiming that if a Congress government was elected, he will ensure that the farmers get the right prices they deserve, and if need be the party will also consider waiving off loans. 

Vikas has gone 'pagal' in Gujarat 

Slamming the BJP government in Gujarat over its claims of development, Rahul Gandhi sarcastically said, "I am going to send  a letter to Guinness Book of World Records as for the first time 'vikas' has gone mad."

Rahul Gandhi meets Asha and Aanganwadi workers

Here is what Asha workers told Rahul Gandhi in Dabhoi

Gujarat Congress goes LIVE from Dabhoi

Rahul Gandhi is expected to address a public gathering in Dabhoi

Rahul meets aanganwadi workers

Rahul Gandhi in Mandala village

Rahul Gandhi convoy reaches Mandala village in Dhaboi

Rahul Gandhi makes an unscheduled stop at Khadi India showroom in Karjan

We will be the government for poor, says Rahul Gandhi

"Congress government will soon come to power in Gujarat, it will work for the interests of farmers, small traders and the poor. Last time, he (Modi) waived the loans of the rich. We will instead bring a loan waiver for farmers," Rahul said in his Padra rally. 

Watch: Rahul Gandhi is speaking in Padra in Vadodara

​

The mood at the Karjan rally of Rahul Gandhi

When Rahul Gandhi wondered at a public meeting in Karjan, "Jab Narendra Modiji pradhan mantri baney to unhone kaha mein Chowkidar hun, to ab kyon chup hain (When he became the prime minister, he said that he will be a "chowkidaar", but why he is silent now?)," the crowds screamed chor hain, chor. 

Gandhi was referring to the media expose on BJP chief Amit Shah's son. And when he said, "Ye chowkidaar hey ke bhaagidar", there was a huge laughter as people responded almost in unison, "bhaagidar", amid deafening whistles. 

Crowds also screamed, "Jutho chhey, Jutho chhey (he is a liar, referring to Modi)", in the same breathe.

Rahul Gandhi rakes up Jay Shah controversy

Rahul Gandhi reaches out to media, says 'daro mat'

Rahul Gandhi addressing the public in Karjan

Rahul Gandhi being falicitated by local leaders

BJP gets a thumbs up in local body polls

In a major boost for the ruling BJP before the Assembly elections, the party has won five of the seven local bodies in Gujarat. The party has also won a seat in Gandhinagar's Randheja taluka. It is to be noted that the party won only two of the seven bodies in the last elections. 

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is in the line of fire in Amethi

"People of Gujarat have experienced development. Rahul must look at what he has done to Amethi. While he asks what Modi has done in last three years, Rahul must answer what his family has done for Amethi and India," BJP president Amit Shah told the gathering in Amethi. 

Rahul Gandhi concludes address

While Rahul ended his speech, urging Gujarati populace to vote for Congress, the public in Karjan began shouting slogans like, "Congress aveche", which roughly translates to "Congress is coming." 

Rahul Gandhi attacks BJP over noteban

Congress vice-president said that the Modi government looted Indians through note ban. Rahul Gandhi added that the move only impacted the daily wage workers, unemployed and the working class people, and said the demonetisation drive only helped a group of 10-15 industrialists. 

Rahul attacks Amit Shah's son once again 

"It was sheer magic that Rs 50,000 became Rs 80 crores in just few months. While successful companies run longer, I don't know why it was closed in 2016. It is happening in a country where the chowkidaar (Modi) is ruling India, Why he is silent when there has been a theft? It seems now it is Amit Shah ke bete ko bacchao", Rahul Gandhi told a public gathering in Karjan. 

After former Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil, Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki is addressing the gathering

Rahul Gandhi is live from Karjan

Smriti Irani says Rahul has no right to preach on 'vikaas'

"Those who do not the difference between relay transmission and FM radio station should not talk about 'vikaas'," Smriti irani said in an apparent dig at Rahul Gandhi. 

Smriti Irani says Rahul has no time for Amethi

"When people from Pipri went to meet the MP (Rahul Gandhi), they were told that he had no time left for them,"  Irani said on Tuesday. 

Rahul Gandhi interacted with the public in Padra

Gujarat govt reduces VAT on petrol, Congress calls it a gimmick

Gujarat govt reduces VAT on petrol by 4 percent. With the latest announcement, petrol prices have been cut by Rs 2.93 and diesel by Rs 2.72. On the latest announcement,  Congress Shaktisinh Gohil said, "This decision was taken in view of the support that Rahul Gandhi is getting across the state. This was done with an eye on elections," he told reporters.

Rahul says Congress did a better job in providing employment

Rahul takes a dig at Modi's forceful implementation of demonetisation

Watch: Rahul Gandhi says Modi government not focussing on job growth

Glimpses of Rahul Gandhi's interaction with students in Vadodara

Here is the Day 2 schedule of Rahul's Navsarjan Yatra

Rahul Gandhi slams anti-women mindset of BJP

"Everything is fine till the time a woman is silent. But if she speaks, she will be silenced," Rahul said. 

Rahul Gandhi mocks 'vikas' in Gujarat

Rahul Gandhi addressed students of an institute in Vadodara

Rahul Gandhi began his day by paying tributes to Bhimrao Ambedkar 

Buy Indian phones: Rahul's appeal to youth

After addressing students, Rahul Gandhi will address a gathering in Bhayli in Vadodara

Watch: Smriti Irani mocks Rahul Gandhi in Amethi

Rahul Gandhi's view on free speech

Rahul Gandhi mocks Amit Shah's son

"Jay Shah is an icon of start up India. Look how he brought the company's revenue from Rs 50,000 to 80 crores. But I don't understand why he wound up the company in less than a year," asked Rahul in Vadodara. 

Rahul Gandhi attacks RSS, BJP's anti-women stance

"Badi badi bate hai. Yeh log khokle baate karte hai (These people talk about big and hallow things). They are not interested in women's rights. Have you ever seen any women in RSS camps," Rahul said questioning the BJP alleged anti-women attitude. 

Job creation not the focus of NDA govt

"Job creation is a problem in India. Out of 30,000, only about 450 youth get employment in India. Whereas in China, about 50,000 youth get jobs. This is because the NDA government is not focusing on jobs," Rahul told students in Vadodara.

Private sector in Gujarat is a monopoly, says Rahul

"The private sector in Gujarat is a monopoly. At least 90% privatisation in technical education," Rahul told students on Tuesday. 

Will bring back focus on knowledge, says Rahul Gandhi

"Education is important . But if you run educational institutions only for profit, then it will not benefit students. The reason why IITs are successful is because they are not run for profits. The focus is not profit. My government in Gujarat will help bring the focus back on education and not on profit," Rahul Gandhi told students during an interaction in Vadodara. 

Watch: Rahul Gandhi is interacting with students

Recap: Rahul Gandhi contemplates on Congress' policy on small and medium scale industry

Recap: Felt bad after seeing LTTE chief Prabhakaran's body, says Rahul Gandhi

Watch: Rahul Gandhi speaks over how Congress will tackle inflation problem

Watch: Congress' Navsarjan Yatra song

Updates for 10 October 2017 begin

Rahul Gandhi reaches Asodar

Rahul Gandhi slams BJP on bad loans, says why a farmer was called a defaulter but an industrialist a nonperforming asset

Targeting BJP-led central government on loans, Gandhi said, “Modi govt’s new model is a model for industrialists. When poor farmers fail to pay their loans, Modi ji calls them defaulters... BJP refuses to waive off their loans saying they shouldn't be taught to become habitual defaulters. But when industrialists like Mallya don't pay back their loans they are called non-performing assets.

"Loans given to poor is their right, not a gift. In case the Congress comes to power, we will give loans to the poor, farmers, women, who Modi govt ignores,” Gandhi said. 

Five-ten industrialists run Gujarat govt 

Rahul Gandhi slammed the state government accusingit of crony capoitalism. "The Gujarat government's doors are closed for the poor adn farmers. Only five to ten industrialists are running the government," Gandhi said.

He also brought up the inflation issue, alleging that the Modi government failed to check the rise in fuel prices. "Ghar chalane ka kharch badha ya kam hua (Has your monthly budget increased or decreased)," Gandhi asked amid a cheering crowd. 

With unemployment on agenda, Rahul Gandhi plans to woo Gujarat youth

Rahu Gandhi attacked the government over its failure to create jobs. India, he said, is competing with China these days. China creates 50,000 jobs every day, but the country under the Modi government is able to generate just 450 jobs per day, he said.

'Modi cannot nullify past 70 years of India's journey'

Hitting out at Narendra Modi for denying the development done during Congress rule in India, Rahul Gandhi said that India's journey in the past 70 years has been too great to be one party's property. He said that the progress made in those years should be accredited to the people of India, and by denying it, Modi was insulting the contributions made by your families and forefathers. 

He also said that Atal Bihar Vajpayee too had not denied the development work done during the years that Congress was in power. 

On Gujarat visit, Rahul Gandhi seeks to directly reach out to the people

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi mingled freely with the crowds, held meeting with village milk cooperatives as well as interacted with rural women in the central Gujarat region of Kheda and Anand.

Emerging from a meeting of milk cooperative women in Borsad town, he asked a three year old girl Devanshi why was she crying and she murmured, “bhukh laagi chhey (I am hungry)”. He gave the girl a chocolate. 

He then walked with the child holding her finger through the crowd, while her mother Minalben held the other hand. Minalben is a member of the Sojitra taluka (tehsil) panchayat. 

Rahul Gandhi mocks Modi's 'man ki baat' radio address, says we believe in listening

Mocking Narendra Modi’s monthly radio address to the nation Mann ki Baat, the Rahul Gandhi 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.)

Rahul Gandhi in Petlad village

Rahul Gandhi attacks Modi, Amit Shah over son's business earnings

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a frontal attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of crony capitalism, and hit out at BJP chief Amit Shah over allegations that his son's business fortunes soared after the NDA government came to power in New Delhi. Addressing enthusiastic crowds in Nadiad in central Gujarat, on the second phase of his party's Navsarjan Yatra in the poll-bound state, Gandhi took pot shots at the Modi government as the gathering cheered loudly.

"When it comes to helping, they help only a handful of industrialists. For 10-12 years, Amit Shah's son's company had nothing, but started earning only after 2014. 'Ajeeb duniya hain' (It's a strange world). He (Jay Shah) started with Rs 50,000, and in a year it jumped to Rs 80 crore. This is 'Start Up India', 'Make in India'," he said, mocking the Prime Minister's pet schemes.

Rahul Gandhi pays tributes to Sardar Vallabbhai Patel in Naidad

Rahul Gandhi mocks Modi's anti-corruption slogan over Jay Shah's business dealings

Urging the crowd to repeat after him, Rahul raised slogans mocking Modi's popular 'na khaunga na khane dunga,' rallying cry. "For 10-12 years, Amit Shah's son's company has been into existence, but it starts earning only after 2014. Isn't it a strange world," Rahul said. 

"Na khaunga, na khaney dunga. Kahan gaya chowkidar? Ye hain Gujarat ki sachchai (Neither will I indulge in corruption nor will I let anyone else do it, Modi would say.. but this is the reality of Gujarat)," Rahul said. 

Rahul Gandhi fires fresh salvo at Modi govt over unemployment

Targetting the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, Rahul claimed that unemployment is one of the biggest problems in India and the BJP has failed to keep its promises. 

"Chhappan ki chhaati hain, mein Akela rozgar dunga. Kisiko kuchh nahi karna padega (Whatever happened to the 56-inch-chest. He said I will create jobs all by myslef.)," Rahul said. 

He also added that every 24 hours, 30,000 unemployed youth enter the job market, of which only 450 get jobs. 

Gandhi calls out Narendra Modi on Jay Shah's business dealings, asks "were you gatekeeper or participant?"

The schedule Rahul Gandhi will follow on the first day of his Navsarjan Yatra in Gujarat

Rahul Gandhi reaches Ahmedabad and is received by Ashok Gehlot, Ahmed Patel and Bharat Solanki.