Rahul Gandhi Gujarat visit LIVE updates: ‘From beti bachao, it has now changed to beta bachao’

Rahul Gandhi Gujarat visit LIVE updates: Rahul Gandhi interacts with people in Kheda, Gujarat. (Source – Twitter/@INCIndia)

Continuing his Navsarjan Yatra in poll-bound Gujarat, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is holding public meetings in Vadodara today. Gandhi began with the second phase of Navsarjan Yatra on Monday and traveled through Ahmedabad, Kheda Anand and Vadodara, which was his last stop of the day. He began the second day of the yatra from Vadodara and will head to the tribal district in central Gujarat, Chhota Udaipur.

The Navsarjan Yatra is said to be Congress’ campaign in Gujarat to understand local issues as well as boost the morale of party workers. On day one of the second phase of the yatra, Gandhi addressed rallies and interacted with people through the day. He also met Amul plant workers in Kheda and representatives of Mahila Milk Cooperatives in Anand. He paid a visit to Sardar Patel’s birthplace, Nadiad, as well.

Live updates – Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat:

12.45 pm: Visuals from Karjan, Vadodara.

Rahul Gandhi arrives in Karjan for a public meeting @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/rJrL17akNu

— Aditi Raja (@aditijf) October 10, 2017

1.35 pm: “Before 2014 elections, Modi said he doesn’t want to be the PM but a chowkidar (gatekeeper) of the nation,” Rahul said. “Chowkidar ke saamne chori hui….to vo chowkidaar the ya bhaagidaar (theft happened in front of the gatekeeper…so was he a gatekeeper or a partner),” he added.

1.25 pm: The Congress vice president said, “First they started ‘Beti Bachao’ program. Now it has changed to Amit Shah ke bete ko bachao (save Amit Shah’s son).”

1.20 pm: Addressing people at Karjan, Vadodara, Rahul Gandhi said, “On one hand, PM Modi talks about StartUp India. On the other hand, GST and demonetisation have ruined the small business owners of the nation.” He went on to add, “Only Amit Shah’s son’s business flourished.”

1.05 pm: Rahul Gandhi has reached Karjan, Vadodara and will be addressing people shortly.

12.55 pm: The Congress vice president had raised the issue of unemployment yesterday as well. Rahul said that in India, 30,000 people come to the job market in every 24 hours. The government is however, able to give employment only to 450 people. Chinese government on the other hand gives jobs to 50,000 daily. “Excuses won’t work when it comes to jobs. If the government does not employ 30,000-40,000 people daily in the next five to ten years, then no one will be able to control the anger that will spread,” he said, adding “Employment should be discussed; we discuss only religion and social anger.”

12.40 pm: Targeting the central government for hurrying through the process of GST, he said, “Any economic reform has to be tested with a response from people; law and taxes have to be evolved. We had told the govt to take GST slowly to the people by testing it; but Jaitley ji was not in the mood. We have been telling the govt to make uniform slab of 18 per cent. Idea of GST is one tax, (Modi’s) is flawed tax.” He also added that if petrol and diesel prices are brought under the purview of GST, the plummeting fuel prices can be kept under check.

12.25 pm: On his first day of Gujarat visit, Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government over a number of issues. Hitting out at the ruling party for making hasty decisions like demonetisation, Rahul criticised BJP’s shortsightedness. “Vajpayeeji had called Rajiv Gandhi ‘mad’, when he introduced computers; but a leader has to be visionary. When telecom revolution happened, no one was hurt; it was due to strategic thinking. You cannot implement a policy forcefully in a day,” Gandhi said. He also added that India cannot be made cashless immediately. The process needs to be brought in smoothly.

12.15 pm: BJP national president Amit Shah is currently in Amethi. Get live updates on his Amethi visit – Amit Shah in Amethi LIVE updates: BJP chief to launch development schemes at UPSIDC maidaan

12.00 pm: Rahul Gandhi has reached Padra and is now addressing people there.

pic.twitter.com/FLCEppEZuX

— Gujarat Congress (@INCGujarat) October 10, 2017

11.45 am: Here is Rahul Gandhi’s schedule for the second day of his Navsarjan Yatra in Gujarat.

Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat LIVE updates: Here’s the Congress vice-president’s schedule for day two of the Navsarjan Yatra. (Source – Twitter/@INCIndia)

11.35 am: After concluding his address, Rahul proceeded towards Bhaili. Our reporter on ground Aditi Raja is closely following the Congress vice president’s Navsarjan Yatra. She tweets @aditijf.

11.30 am: He continued, “When we come into power in Gujarat, this will be the government you will have – your leaders will listen to you. If we come to power in Gujarat, you can ask me questions. I won’t tell you only my ‘Mann ki Baat’. The Congress knows how to revive the economy, we have done it before. It is the need of the hour. India’s only focus has to be on the competition with China for job creation”.

11.25 am: A student asked Rahul, “Can you convince us why should we vote for you?” To this, he replied, “Employment is the biggest problem; badly implemented demonetisation and GST has blown apart the economy. We grew up with a GDP growth of 9 per cent, today it is 4 per cent. Economy has to be revived. Congress doesn’t leave out people from economy. We have a softer approach, we don’t use violence and intimidation. Can you imagine this kind of violence and intimidation under Manmohan Singh?”

11.20 am: Rahul said in order to bring jobs in Gujarat, entrepreneurial spirits need to be rekindled. “10-15 industrialists have NPAs of Rs 7 lakh crores, Modiji is not taking this money back from them. Modiji’s focus is on growing only few industries,” he alleged.

11.15 am: “You enjoy taking selfies with your phone, but that phone has given jobs to Chinese youth,” Rahul said. “‘Made in China’ is happening because Modiji’s focus is not on job creation. I want that when Chinese boys and girls use a phone, they should say ‘Made in India’, ‘Made in Gujarat’. Gujarat has shown might in milk production; New Zealand says it cannot compete with Gujarat. If Gujarat can do it in milk production, it can also be done in mobile phone production,” the Congress vice president stated.

11.10 am: Targeting BJP, Rahul said, “It is the BJP’s thinking that till women remain silent, they are good. The moment a woman opens her mouth, they want to shut her up.” He then went on to criticise RSS. “Have you seen a single woman in an RSS shakha in shorts? Why aren’t women allowed in RSS? They (BJP) have so many women in the party, but I have not seen a single woman in RSS,” Rahul said.

11.05 am: “If you see the education statistics for girls, Gujarat does not feature in top 10; Modi’s words are hollow,” Rahul said. “It is in Congress’ nature to strengthen – we will do it in the sector of girls’ education,” he added.

11.00 am: “An activist called me after Gauri Lankesh’s murder and said that he was scared as he could be next. I told the activist, ‘That is exactly how they want you to feel.’ They want to intimidate those who speak,” the Congress vice president said.

10.55 am: Responding to questions on safety of journalists and Gauri Lankesh’s murder, Rahul said, “Why do you think Gauri Lankesh was shot dead? Do you think truth can be hidden? Truth cannot be suppressed, it can only be concealed for a time.”

10.45 am: Rahul said, “Modiji launched Start up India in 2014, and Jay Shah’s company fortunes grew.” Referring to PM Modi as a gatekeeper again, he added, “The Chowkidaar of India is quiet even after his right hand man’s son has made crores from Rs 50,000.” He asked, “You know where Rs 2 lakh crore debt of the Gujarat govt has gone, to which company has chowkidar given it?”

10.35 am: Rahul Gandhi is now interacting with students at Sayaji Nagar Gruh. Answering questions raised by students, Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, “Modi has turned the focus of education to ‘profit’. Congress wants to bring it back to ‘knowledge’.” He added that Modi’s marketing is great but there is no development in the field of education.

10.20 am: Rahul Gandhi attended a prayer meeting at Sankalp Bhoomi and paid his respects to Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

Rahul Gandhi LIVE blog: Rahul Gandhi at Sankalp Bhawan, Vadodara. (Source – Twitter/@aditijf)

10.00 am: Rahul Gandhi will begin his second day of Navsarjan Yatra in Vadodara by attending a prayer meeting at Sankalp Bhoomi. He will be paying obeisance to Baba Saheb Ambedkar. He will then hold an interaction with students at Sayaji Hall and proceed to Bhaili, where he will be welcomed by workers. He will then travel to Padra, hold a public meeting at Karjan and an interaction with Asha and Anganwadi workers at Patel Town in Dabhoi. H will also hold a public meeting at Dabhoi and will move on meet the people affected by Narmada Dam at Pansoli Village in Vasahat. He will hold his last public meeting at Village Bodeli in Chhota Udaipur.