Nation in danger, that’s why I came into politics: Priyanka Gandhi

ALLAHABAD/BHADOHI: Congress general secretary and east UP in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Monday that she entered active politics because the nation and the Constitution were in danger.

“For many years, I had been sitting at home. I could have stayed back at home. Why I have come out today? I have come out because the country is in danger. The Constitution of India is in danger,” she said while kicking off her three-day Lok Sabha campaign via a boat ride on the Ganga and urged people to choose wisely and elect a government that works for them.

Seeking to navigate Congress towards reclaiming lost ground in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, the Gandhi scion said, “Your vote will decide your children’s future. Understand this carefully.” Seeking to revive Congress fortunes in Lok Sabha elections, Priyanka deftly played both soft Hindutva and caste cards in her carefully curated itinerary, which included Ganga, Hanuman, Akshayvat. Her overarching personality revived the old charm and pull for the grand old party.

Priyanka’s political discourse in Sirsa and Sitamarhi was emphatic and to the point. While on one hand, she reminded people that 2019 election was about the future of their children, she told them her brother Rahul Gandhi was a man of words and kept his promises. She also urged them to strengthen her brother’s campaign against those dividing the country.

“I would sit at home like most before. But now I am among you. It is time for everyone to wake up,” she said in Sirsa.

Priyanka thanked people for showering their love on her but immediately questioned the reason for it. “This love is because you see hope in us. I understand your feelings and know the reason behind your pain,” she said.

Sowing the seeds for change, Priyanka urged people to think about a government which was accountable to all and worked for them. She said: “Today, youth, farmers, women, anganwadi workers are suffering and when they raise their voice, they are suppressed.”

Adding that people’s love has made politicians take them for granted. “It is for this that they think that they can take you for a ride. But let me tell you, you are the ones who make leaders... Leaders need you, you don’t need them... Get up as the future of your children is in danger,” she said.

In Sitamarhi, Priyanka attacked PM Modi and called his government weak. “Aap kehte hain aap shaktiman hain, aapka 56 inch ka seena hain… itne mahaan hain aur shaktimaan hain to drirh nishchay kyo nahi lete… kyo kisanon ke liye faisla nahi karte… rozgar kyon nahi dilwa sakte… Yeh unki durbalta hai… yeh ek durbal sarkar hai. (You say you are shaktiman, you have a 56-inch chest.. if you are so great, then why can’t you take a stand for farmers and unemployed youth… you cannot take action because you are a weak government),” Priyanka said, urging people to differentiate between a strong and weak government and added that a strong government never suppresses people and is open to criticism.

“When you will strengthen the Congress and Rahul ji, you will see in the times to come that development is taking place,” she said.