Showing posts with label priyanka gandhi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label priyanka gandhi. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Priyanka Gandhi shocked by low voter turnout in Amethi
Rae Bareli, April 24 (IANS) Priyanka Gandhi Friday said she was shocked by the low voter turn out in Amethi, her brother Rahul Gandhi’s constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
“I lost my sleep after seeing such a low turn out,” Priyanka said at a public meeting in Rae Bareli, from where her mother and Congress president Sonia is contesting the Lok Sabha elections.
According to Election Commission statistics, Amethi recorded around 40 percent voter turnout in the second phase of elections - only one percent above the lowest turnout of 39 percent reported from Kaushambi in Uttar Pradesh.
However, the Congress’ state unit Friday claimed that the percentage was much higher.
“According to the final report of the Election Commission, 45.23 percent of voters cast their vote in Amethi,” claimed party spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh.
Priyanka also urged the people of Rae Bareli to come out and vote in huge numbers when the constituency goes to the polls April 30.
“I am not seeking votes for my mother. Casting your vote is your responsibility towards the nation,” she said.
“You should come out with the same spirit to vote as you have come here in large numbers in this scorching heat to hear me,” Priyanka added.
Priyanka, who has been in Rae Bareli to campaign for her mother for the past couple of days, addressed over a dozen public meetings during the day.
Why should people vote for Congress, a youth’s poser to Priyanka
Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), March 23 (IANS) While her comments on cousin Varun Gandhi attracted all the media hype, a young man’s pointed query to Priyanka Gandhi asking her for a reason why people should vote for the Congress caused a flurry among party workers here Monday.
At Priyanka Gandhi’s closed door meeting with party workers in Bachrawan, a local youth, Manish, interrupted the proceedings to ask Priyanka to tell the people of Rae Bareli, her mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s constituency, a reason to vote for the Congress.
“I am doing a petty job in Mumbai and despite your (Congress) promises, we do not see any professional future for our youth in the district. We do not have proper roads, and job opportunities and we vote for you only to follow the tradition of voting for the Gandhi family,” Manish said on the loudspeaker, as told by those participating in the meeting.
Although those at the meeting tried to pacify him, Priyanka assured Manish by saying: “If I promise you a job will you stay back (in Rae Bareli)?. Meet me after the meeting and I assure you help.”
However, Manish was untraceable by the media after the meeting as he was cordoned off by party workers. Manish, a Congress supporter, had accompanied a party worker to the meeting.
Priyanka Monday began her two-day visit to Rae Bareli with the family’s tradition of visiting an ancient temple - before entering her mother’s constituency.
Priyanka, who landed in Lucknow at around 10.30 a.m., on way to Bachrawan to attend a closed-door meeting with party workers, took a halt at the Churwa Hanumanji Temple on the Lucknow-Rae Bareli border - a tradition followed by her mother, brother and her other ancestors like Feroz Gandhi and Indira Gandhi.
“All the members of the Gandhi family make it a point to visit this temple and offer a puja before entering Rae Bareli. And like her brother and mother, Priyanka also makes it a point to carry on the family tradition,” said Ganga Sagar, an elderly resident of Churwa village.
Later, she attended the meeting with party workers in Bachrawan Tehsil. Those who attended the meeting were surprised by her “directions” to them.
“Rahul Gandhi early last year had appointed a party worker for every 50 families in all the villages of Rae Bareli and Amethi, and we were given the task of mobilizing them to come to the polling booth on the day of voting. Today, Priyanka-ji also stressed on the same point,” said Pawan Singh Patel, a party worker of Harchandpur block.
Priyanka also said that the workers should realize their responsibilities and work on increasing the winning margin of the party, he added.
After the meeting, Priyanka while interacting with journalists commented on her cousin Varun Gandhi’s alleged hate speeches made during a rally in Pilibhit earlier this month.
“Varun’s comments are against the traditions and principles of the (Gandhi) family and he has gone against what the Gandhis have lived and died for… It made me very sad to see him saying those things on TV… What can I say?,” Priyanka told reporters.
“I would advise him to read the Gita properly and try to understand it,” said Priyanka.
Priyanka, a mother of two, also insisted that she had no political plans as yet.
“I am here only to campaign for my mother and my brother and have no plans to contest elections.”
Asked if she had plans to campaign in other states as well, she said: “No plans as yet. I only come to this place for my mother and brother.”
She also rubbished claims made by Uttar Pradesh’s ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) that the central government has neglected the state in terms of developmental activities.
“The state has developed a lot and one should go around the state to have a first hand experience of the developmental activities that have taken place.”
Priyanka attended the last meeting of the day in Pandey Kothi of Rae Bareli in the evening. She is staying overnight at the Munshiganj guest house to continue her campaign Tuesday.
My fluency in Hindi due to Teji Bachchan: Priyanka Gandhi
“It is all thanks to Teji Bachchan,” Priyanka Gandhi said in an interview to NDTV broadcast Friday night.
The Bachchans and Gandhis were family friends, with Amitabh and Rajiv Gandhi growing up as friends together - before they fell out later in their lives.
“As a child, I spent a lot of time with her. She used to give me all the poems and books of Harivansh Rai Bachchan (her poet husband), which I loved,” Priyanka Gandhi said, adding: “She really got me interested in Hindi literature.”
From that, she graduated to other gems of Hindi literature, like Premchand’s novels, and continues her reading till now.
“That’s why my Hindi is good, due to my reading.”
Not surprisingly, Sonia Gandhi turned to her daughter to help with her speeches when she first forayed into politics.
“I used to write her speeches, but it was only in the first year. Not any more,” she said.
Priyanka Gandhi has been leading the election campaign of her mother and brother, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, in their respective constituencies of Rae Bareli and Amethi.
We Indians have a habit of complaining: Priyanka
“Hamari aadat hai shikayat karne ki, meri bhi hai (We have a habit of complaining… it is my habit also),” she said at a public meeting while campaigning for her mother in Rae Bareli constituency.
“But we only prefer to complain and avoid taking the initiative for a better future,” she added.
Priyanka also expressed concern over low turn out of voters, specially in the urban areas.
“Those living in the urban areas are considered to be more educated and aware than the rural population. But it is a bitter fact, not only in Amethi or Rae Bareli, but across the country that voting percentage is lowest in urban areas,” she said.
Priyanka advised people not to enjoy the polling day as a holiday because if they did not exercise their basic right, they could never bring about change. She appealed to them to go out and vote, not necessarily for her mother or the Congress but for whoever they wanted so long as they voted.
“It is the voter who has the power to bring a change. Neither a party nor a politician has this power,” she said, speaking in an urban area of the constituency.
Priyanka also divided politics and politicians into two categories.
“One believes in politics of development and equality. The other depends upon communalism, hatred and divide and rule. You have to decide the path that leads to a better future for you and your children,” she said.
Priyanka asserted that Rae Bareli should send a positive signal to the entire nation that the region does not want politics based on religion and caste but has opted for development and equality.
Priyanka Gandhi says development an election issue
“Don’t look at any politician as God. Never ever become a worshipper to any politician. Politics will improve only when you will understand that politicians are your servant,” Gandhi said at an election rally here.
Priyanka further said that it was peoples’ responsibility to make the politicians realise that they want development.
“The entire country looks at Rai Bareli and Amethi. The way you brought about change by continuing to vote for development will show the path to the entire country,” she added.
Priyanka also recalled the controversial Rae Bareli rail coach factory, saying the factory would give employment to at least 10,000 people.
She claimed that many development works were carried out during the tenure of Sonia Gandhi as their MP.
“Sonia Gandhi has sent me here on her behalf. I am her daughter. I know her. Give five years more to Sonia Gandhi,” she added.
Priyanka appealed people to vote for Sonia Gandhi for the development of the region.
“I have come to assure you that Sonia Gandhi will never disappoint you. She will work till her last breath for the development of the region,” she added. (ANI)
India Elections 2009 – Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s Hypocrisy
For someone who is apparently not considered to be a full time politician Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the last few weeks has not been shying away from taking political pot-shots at the opposition.
With a fawning media falling head over heels to latch on to every inanity she mouths the Nehru-Gandhi media circus one must admit has been quite entertaining.
In what was supposed to be an exclusive and extensive interview to Barkha Dutt Ms. Gandhi Vadra had this to say about politics
Frankly, I’m not sure I’ve figured out why myself. But I’m very clear I don’t want to be in politics, I’m very happy living my life the way I am. I think there are certain aspects of politics which I’m just not suited to.
Be that as it may, it is puzzling however why someone who holds these views on joining politics would expose her minor children of ages 7 and 5 to the hurly burly world of political campaigning.
The Times of India had this story to report on 14th April 2009
Former pradhan of Chandosi gram sabha Kanhaiya Baksh Singh had an unusual assignment on Sunday, April 12 — he escorted Priyanka Vadra’s Rehan aged 7 and Maira aged 5 made friends easily with village children, shaking hands & distributing Congress badges on their maiden independent election trail in the family pocketborough of Amethi
Priyanka told the media on Monday that the kids were out campaigning for their Mamaji and had even provided her with valuable feedback on problems like power cuts facing the constituency. “I thought let them have a first-hand feel of life…” said a beaming Priyanka.
While it is absolutely a parent’s decision on whether their children must be exposed to the public gaze in this manner, one cant help but highlight Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s hypocrisy on this issue.
On 20th December 2004 she had dragged the “Today” an english lanugage afternoon newspaper of New Delhi for publishing her children’s photographs.
The matter was filed with the Press Council of India which adjudicated in favor of the newspaper in 2005.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s specific complaint with the Press Council of India was
the impugned article/photographs published by the respondent do not involve any public interest except generating undue voyeuristic and morbid public curiosity about the minor child which is against the interst of the child.
The counsel contended that the contents of the article/photographs published are highly objectionable and directly infringe her son’s right to privacy and normal upbringing.
The complainant has submitted that the impugned article created unnecessary controversies, which were unwarranted and against the interest of the child. It and the press/media unethically tried to drag the child into controversy.
The complainant has submitted that Master Raihan Rajiv Vadra is a minor child and publication of such article/photograph are illegal, unwarranted and against journalistic ethics. Such article/photograph un-necessarily bring the child into public focus, which inter-alia infringe his right of privacy.
Further that many a time the press photographs/media persons unauthorisedly took photographs of the minor child when he was in public/private functions.
Such irresponsible behaviour of the media being unethical and against journalistic ethics may cause serious damage/injury to the child and expose him to serious security threats.
Further the counsel for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made these interesting remarks
the parents of the child made every effort to keep the child away from public gaze. The respondent had brought the child into unnecessary public focus that could be a security hazard and even hamper the child’s normal growth.
The issue is all the more puzzling for as Offstumped goes to press with this post, TimesNow is running a prime time story on Priyanka Gandhi promising to admonish brother Rahul for breaking his security cordon while on the campaign trail.
The Nehru-Gandhi-Vadras may be entitled to their misguided conviction that every offspring of the family has a god given responsibility to hit the election campaign trail.
But will someone question Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on her hypocrisy on the issue of violating the privacy of Minor Children and exposing them to the public gaze ?
An issue that she felt so strongly about back in 2004 that she saw it fit to drag a newspaper to litigation in the Press Council of India.
I will never join politics: Priyanka
 Forty-eight hours before Amethi, Rahul Gandhi's [Images] constituency in the heart of Uttar Pradesh [Images] goes to the polls, sister Priyanka Gandhi [Images] was barnstorming the place in her Land Cruiser jeep, stopping at village squares and corner roads, between mud-packed houses and grain sheaves, milch cows and children who had taken off from school to come see, hear and touch this girl-who-was-indeed-for-real. Speaking in impeccable Hindi, Priyanka warmed to each corner-side crowd within seconds, moving microphones out of the way in some places and wading into the crowd, dimpling at them, totally unafraid. This was vintage Gandhi nobility returning to its political roots, but it never once seemed as if Amethi's villagers were in awe of her. Jyoti Malhotra caught up with her at the end of each campaign stop, as the searing sun blazed overhead and the hot wind whipped through fields still being harvested, and pieced this interview together over the best part of the day. Why have you restricted yourself to Amethi and Rae Bareli? Why not campaign in the rest of Uttar Pradesh and the country? I am campaigning here for my brother and for my mother. I am not campaigning elsewhere because I am not in politics. It would be dishonest of me to go to any other part of the country (since I am not in politics). So this is personal, for the family? Yes, it is. I had always said that I would only come to these constituencies. I wanted to come and help strengthen the organisation. (The organisation) is there, it has been there for many years, but I thought I would come and help Rahul and my mother. Right here, under the Amethi sun, I want to ask you about your vision of India. What is your idea of India? That is a complicated question. India symbolises a lot of things for me. It is about the diversity of religions and ideologies -- everybody can follow whatever they want. But there is a certain unity as well. In your campaign meetings, you have talked a lot about whether you will join politics or not. A little while ago you said you would never join politics, then you changed that to saying, there is no such thing as "never" in politics. I am saying this again, and I have said it before. I will never join politics. What I said about "there being no such thing as never" was twisted out of context. What made you say "never say never..."? I believe the universe works in a complicated way... You are clearly a natural, why wouldn't you join politics? Congressmen all over the country feel you are their ultimate weapon... The problem with that is that most weapons can be used only once ! I am repeating myself, I am not joining politics. You have been talking a lot about Rahul getting married in your campaign speeches! I was kidding! How have things changed in Amethi and Rae Bareli over the years? They have drastically changed. We have been coming here since my father's time, there is a lot of improvement now. Apart from roads and other infrastructure, I have helped start self-help groups for women. (Called the Mahila Yojana for Amethi and Rae Bareli (MYRA), these groups offer micro-credit for women to set up small cottage industries in dairy farming and sericulture.) You have often been compared to your grandmother Indira Gandhi [Images]? How do you feel about that? I have very strong memories of her. She was not overbearing at all, but very warm and caring. She was absolutely my idol at the time. What do you think about Rahul? I think he has a great future. He has enormous dedication and capacity for hard work. He has done a lot of revolutionary things which have gone unnoticed. Do you see him as a future prime minister? Main usko us nazariye se nahin dekhti. Main usko ek behen ke nazariye se dekhti hoon (I don't see him in that way. I see him as a sister sees her brother). It is said that you follow the Middle Path in Buddhism? Yes, I live by it. I see it as being true to myself. What do you thing about women's reservation? The government tried to do something about this issue in Parliament, unfortunately they could not get a consensus. But I think it is not only important, but necessary. What are your views about Dr Manmohan Singh [Images]? I think that he is a very imaandaar (honest) man. If after being in politics for so many years, he can still be such an honourable man, then that is not only very creditable, it is his biggest strength. RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav [Images] has said that the Congress was responsible for the demolition of the Babri Masjid. That seems politically motivated. What are your views about Mayawati [Images]? She has clearly evoked a lot of support and admiration, especially from the lower castes. Do you understand what she does? Yes, I understand what she does. It's true that certain castes have been oppressed for centuries, and she has tried to empower them. But the way forward is to take everybody along, not to divide people on the basis of caste and religion.
Do you think the Congress and the BSP could work together? After all both parties are similar in some ways... That you will have to ask the party (smiles). Do you think the Nehru-Gandhi family is synonymous with India? Well, they have always worked for India, so in that sense I suppose the family is very close to the people. But there has been a lot of criticism about dynastic politics... I don't agree. After all, even in dynastic politics, you have to come back and ask the people to vote for you every five years. If you haven't worked for them, they won't vote for you. |
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