News Analysis India

Tag: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

  • 2022 UP polls: Congress tries to woo ASHA workers, promises Rs 10,000 honorarium

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Congress general secretary and party’s UP in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has made an addition to the series of pre-poll promises – an honorarium of Rs 10,000 to ASHS and Aganwadi workers if voted to power. 

    Earlier, the Congress leader has made several promises including 40% tickets to women candidates, smartphone and scooty for girls and loan waivers to farmers in a bid to revive the grand old party in the state.

    Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Priyanka attacked the Yogi Adityanath government after the police stopped the ASHA workers from going to meet the CM in Shahjahanpur on Tuesday.

    ALSO READ | Opposition parties patronising cow slaughter, cattle smuggling: Yogi Adityanath

    “Every single attack on ASHA workers by UP government is an insult to the work done by them. My ASHA sisters have given their services diligently during Corona and on other occasions. An honorarium is their right. It is the duty of the government to listen to them. ASHA workers deserve respect and I am with them in this fight. The Congress party is committed to the rights of honorarium of ASHA sisters and their respect and if the government is formed, ASHA sisters and Anganwadi workers will be given an honorarium of Rs 10,000 per month,” she tweeted.

    उप्र सरकार द्वारा आशा बहनों पर किया गया एक-एक वार उनके द्वारा किए गए कार्यों का अपमान है।मेरी आशा बहनों ने कोरोना में व अन्य मौकों पर पूरी लगन से अपनी सेवाएं दीं। मानदेय उनका हक है। उनकी बात सुनना सरकार का कर्तव्य।आशा बहनें सम्मान की हकदार हैं और मैं इस लड़ाई में उनके साथ हूं। pic.twitter.com/fTmBSvJbQD
    — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) November 10, 2021
    Significantly, the Congress has made nine major promises as part of their manifesto for the 2022 UP Assembly polls. The party also promises to waive off pending electricity bills during the Covid period. Congress also promised to increase the MSP of wheat to Rs 2,500 and an MSP of Rs 400 for sugarcane farmers. It has also promised to provide financial assistance of Rs 25,000 to families who are facing a crisis due to Corona. Apart from this, the party promised 20 lakh government jobs.

    The farm loan waiver and cut in power bills were also part of the Congress manifesto for UP in the 2017 Assembly polls with a similar slogan of ‘Karza Maaf Bijli Half’. However, unlike the promise of scooty for graduate girls this time, the Congress in 2017 had promised free bicycles for girl students. 

  • Priyanka visits Gorakhpur, accuses Adityanath of running govt contrary to Guru Gorakhnath’s preachings

    By Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Three weeks after launching the Congress’s 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly poll campaign from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency Varanasi, the grand old party’s national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra travelled to UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s bastion Gorakhpur on Sunday.

    Addressing the Pratigya Rally, she accused the UP CM of running the government contrary to the beliefs and teachings of Guru Gorakhnath.

    “While Guru Gorakhnath preached the well being of all, Yogi Adityanath and his government are running opposite to the saint’s thoughts. Instead of working for people, they are attacking the people, particularly the weaker sections,” Priyanka said.

    “In present UP, not only the criminals, but the police also are unleashing terror and atrocities on people. Instead of helping needy people, the government is turning its face away from struggles and problems of people,” she said listing series of examples of police torture, including the recent killing of Kanpur based trader Manish Gupta at a hotel in Gorakhpur.

    “Properties of people are being bulldozed here and they are terrorised through threats of property confiscation and putting behind bars, this isn’t in line with teachings of Guru Gorakhnath,” she maintained.

    Gorakhpur which houses the Gorakhnath Peeth and Temple is the principal seat of the Nath Hindu monastic movement. UP CM Yogi Adityanath, who also hails from the same sect is the present Mahant of the Gorakhnath Peeth and Temple, which has mammoth following across East UP.

    She also promised to establish a university in the name of Guru Matsyendranath (Guru of Guru Gorakhnath) if voted to power in 2022 polls.

    Trying to strike a chord with the Gorakhpur region, particularly the Nishad (fisherman) community, who are in large numbers in that region of East UP, the Congress leader recounted how a boat of the community was reduced to ashes by police and administration in a village in Prayagraj district.

    “If voted to power, fishing will be awarded status of agriculture to render it the same  incentives and concessions that are hitherto available to agriculture. The Nishad community will get back it’s right on fishing and sand mining,” Priyanka announced eyeing the vote of the large fisherman community, which was instrumental in the ruling BJP sweeping East UP in 2017 polls.

    She also raised other Gorakhpur centric issues, including waterlogging woes and alleged corruption in recruitment in Gorakhpur University.

    “When Yogi Adityanath wasn’t the CM, he always hit the ground over the issue. But after becoming the state’s CM, he sees the same areas from the plane.”

    Taking a dig at the SP and BSP for spreading canards about the Congress being in hidden understanding with BJP, Priyanka questioned, “The sugar mills were closed during the erstwhile SP and BSP regimes, now the same leaders are accusing us of being in secret pact with the BJP. Why don’t they take the streets in UP for people’s cause against the BJP government. It’s the Congress only, which is fighting for people on the ground. Let me tell one and all, I’ll prefer giving my life, rather than ever aligning with the BJP.”

    Jibe at Amit Shah

    Taking a jibe at union home minister Amit Shah for claiming on Thursday that not even a single mafia was visible even through binoculars in Yogi Adityanath ruled UP, she said “you (Shah) don’t need binoculars, but instead should’ve used spectacles to see the mafia — union minister of state Ajay Mishra ‘Teni,’ who was standing next to you in Lucknow.”

    Remembers grandmother Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary

    Priyanka also remembered how her grandmother and ex-PM lost her life for the nation. “I still remember that day when she died. Before going to school, when me and my brother met her, she told us not to cry, if she lost her life. She knew her life was in danger.”

    The Congress leader also remembered country’s first deputy PM and home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary.

  • Loot in name of electricity bills will end when Congress comes to power in UP, says Priyanka Gandhi

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday alleged that people are “reeling under ‘loot’ in the name of electricity bills in the BJP-ruled state and assured that this will end when her party comes to power.

    “The common people of the state are reeling due to the electricity bills and smart meters loot under the BJP rule. The electricity department gave a notice of Rs 19 crore 19 lakh electricity bill to a family working hard to earn a living. This loot of electricity bills will be ended when the Congress party forms the government,” tweeted Vadra.

    Congress leader also shared a media report which claimed that the state’s electricity department had handed over a bill of Rs 19,19,09,993 to a labourer.

    Earlier on Friday, she slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for ignoring the interests of the farmers, alleging that there is a ‘severe’ shortage of fertilisers in the Bundelkhand region of the state.

    The Congress general secretary had also met the families of four farmers who allegedly fell ill and died while waiting in a queue for purchasing fertilizers.

    Uttar Pradesh is set to go to Assembly polls early next year.

    In the 2017 UP Assembly elections, the BJP had won with a huge margin of 312 seats and secured a 39.67 per cent vote share in the elections for 403-member Assembly. Samajwadi Party (SP) had bagged 47 seats, BSP had won 19 while Congress had bagged seven seats in the last assembly polls in the state.

  • Modi govt has created records in ‘giving trouble’ to people: Priyanka Gandhi on fuel prices

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday attacked the Centre over rising prices of petrol and diesel, alleging that the Modi government has created records in “giving trouble” to people.

    Taking to Twitter, the Congress general secretary tagged a media report which said that this year petrol prices have increased by a record Rs 23.53.

    “Modi ji’s government has made big records in giving trouble to the public. Highest unemployment: in Modi government. Government properties being sold: in Modi government. Petrol rates increased the most in a year: in Modi government,” Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

    Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also took a dig at the government by tagging the same media report and tweeting, “Achche Din” (good days).

    Petrol and diesel prices were hiked for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday by 35 paise per litre, pushing the total increase in rates on petrol to Rs 36 per litre and on diesel to Rs 26.58 since early May 2020 when taxes on the two fuels were raised to record levels.

    Petrol in Delhi now costs Rs 107.24 a litre and diesel comes for Rs 95.97, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

  • Smartphone for inter pass girls, scooty for graduate girls if Congress forms government in UP: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

    The Congress national general secretary and in charge of party affairs in UP also attached with her tweet a video of a group of school/college girls interacting with mediapersons.

  • Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to shift base to Lucknow for 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  With the Uttar Pradesh polls around the corner, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is all set to shift base permanently to Lucknow till elections are held for sending a message that the Congress is serious about its revival plans and looking to connect with people on the ground.   

    The general secretary in charge for UP, who seemingly succeeded in making a public opinion after the noises she made regarding Lakhimpur Kheri, is looking to engage with people at block and zila panchayat levels in constituencies where the party has performed well earlier.

    “She will soon shift her base permanently to UP and will stay put till elections to overlook election campaign, candidate selection, possible alliances and strategy,” said a senior leader. Earlier, several leaders, including those from the opposition, had criticised Priyanka for running the show from Delhi, saying it reflected how much the Congress was serious about the welfare of UP. 

    On Sunday, Congress senior leader P L Punia said that she will be the face of the party’s election campaign in UP. The Congress’ biggest challenge is lack of support base and almost no organisation in several parts of the states. Sources said that the party is looking to contest about 80-100 seats. There were around 40 seats where it came second and seven were won in 2017, they added. 

    “On these seats, the party is looking to repeat the candidates and declare the names early. While on other 40 seats, we are looking for strong candidates who can take on the BJP and have some support base also. Priyanka’s strategy will be to focus on these seats and reach out to people to strengthen the party while taking up key issues at the state level,” said a senior UP Congress leader.

    Following the positive public opinion after the Lakhimpur Kheri episode, the party is looking to engage with people on the ground. On Saturday, the CWC meeting applauded Priyanka’s stand. Senior leader Rahul Gandhi advised party leaders, workers not delay in reaching out to the affected people.

  • ‘Difficult for middle class to travel even by road’: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on rising fuel prices

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday took a dig at the government, saying it promised to make those wearing ‘hawai chappals’ travel by air but it has hiked the prices of petrol and diesel so much that it has become difficult for the middle class to travel even by road.

    The Congress general secretary’s attack on the government came over auto fuels now costing a third more than the rate at which aviation turbine fuel (ATF) is sold to airlines.

    Tagging a media report on it, Gandhi tweeted, “Had promised that those wearing ‘Hawai chappals’ (slippers) will travel by airplane. But the BJP government has hiked the prices of petrol and diesel so much that now it has become difficult for those wearing ‘Hawai chappals’ and the middle class to travel even by road.”

    ​ALSO READ | Congress slams ‘catastrophic mishandling’ of economy, asks Centre to reduce excise duty on fuel

    She used the hashtag ‘BJP lai mehenge din (BJP has brought expensive days)’ with her tweet.

    Petrol and diesel prices on Sunday were hiked again by 35 paise a litre and after this hike the auto fuel was now costing a third more than the rate at which ATF is sold to airlines.

    The price of petrol in Delhi rose to its highest-ever level of Rs 105.84 a litre and Rs 111.77 per litre in Mumbai, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

    In Mumbai, diesel now comes for Rs 102.52 a litre; while in Delhi, it costs Rs 94.57.

    Petrol used in two-wheelers and cars now costs 33 per cent more than the price at which aviation turbine fuel (ATF) is sold to airlines.

    ATF in Delhi costs Rs 79,020.16 per kilolitre or Rs 79 per litre.

    All the figures are as per Sunday’s hike.

  • Rejig in Rajasthan cabinet on cards after CM Ashok Gehlot’s chat with Gandhi siblings

    By Express News Service

    JAIPUR:  Even though there is no official announcement, cabinet reshuffle in Rajasthan is on the cards. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot held discussions with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal, Ajay Maken at Rahul Gandhi’s residence in New Delhi on Saturday night. On behalf of Rahul, instructions were given to Gehlot to complete the process at the earliest.

    Top leaders remained tight-lipped. Congress’s Rajasthan in-charge Ajay Maken told the media after the meeting there was ‘nothing special’. But sources close to Gehlot said that the meeting lasted for over an hour and the chief minister presented a roadmap to Rahul and Priyanka. It is learnt that there was talk on caste and regional balance in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle and political appointments. The role of the Sachin Pilot camp was also discussed.

    Sources said Gehlot spoke about shifting certain leaders from the governmental wing to the organisation. For instance, minister Harish Chaudhary is willing to move from the government to the organisation. Govind Singh Dotasra, who holds the post of state Congress president is also the education minister. Health minister Raghu Sharma has been given the additional responsibility of Gujarat in-charge. Both Dotasara and Sharma have given indications of leaving their ministerial posts.

    The Pilot camp is also said to be demanding a cabinet reshuffle. A consensus is yet to be reached on inducting the Pilot supporters. On Friday, Gehlot met Sonia Gandhi’s advisor Ambika Soni but could not meet the Congress president. Although he was scheduled to stay in Delhi on Sunday, he returned to Jaipur on Saturday night. With bypolls going on in Rajasthan, a cabinet reshuffle is unlikely before the results are declared on November 2.

    In July last year, Pilot and 18 MLAs camped in Delhi against the leadership of Gehlot. It was through the efforts of Priyanka that the crisis was resolved. Since then, Pilot has been asking the Gandhis to fulfil the demands of his supporters. With leaders from Rajasthan meeting the siblings instead of Sonia, observers feel these developments may have broader political implications.

    There are 21 ministers in the Gehlot cabinet and nine more posts are vacant. If Dotasra and Sharma step down, there will be room for 11 new ministers. Gehlot is said to be keen on six MLAs who came to Congress from BSP, other than his 13 independent MLA supporters. The Pilot camp wants 4-6 ministerial posts from among the MLAs loyal to him.

  • Priyanka Gandhi will be face of Congress’ election campaign in UP: P L Punia

    P L Punia was named as the head of the key 20-member election campaign committee of the Congress for the UP polls next year, on Friday, October 15, 2021.

  • No stage space for political leaders at last prayers of farmers killed in Lakhimpur Kheri

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and RLD chief Jayant Chaudhury were in a gathering of thousands of farmers from various states at Tikunia in Lakhimpur Kheri on Tuesday to attend the last rites of farmers killed during violence on October 3. However, they were denied space on the stage as the farmer leaders maintained that politicians were not allowed there. There were posters against Congress as well.

    A stage was erected in a sprawling space of 30 acres, barely a kilometre away from the spot of violence. Priyanka and other Congress leaders reached around 1 pm. Samajwadi Party leaders, including district president Rampal Singh Yadav, Dr RA Usmani and others, were also there. RLD president Chaudhary arrived later.

    No political leader was allowed space on the stage even if they expressed a desire to address the gathering. As per sources, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha refused to give stage space to the politicians. They had to sit among the crowd. Even posters targeting Congress leaders without naming them were seen. ‘Those behind 1984 Sikh massacre are not required to show fake sympathy. Don’t rub salts on wounds of Sikhs’ read one.On the stage, family members of deceased farmers Daljeet Singh and Gurvinder Singh of Bahraich district, Nachhatar Singh and Lavpreet Singh of Lakhimpur Kheri district, brother and daughter of journalist Raman Kashyap of Nighasan sat holding photographs of the deceased persons.

    Priyanka and Jayant joined thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and other parts of Uttar Pradesh to attend the last rites amid a thick security blanket in and around Lakhimpur Kheri. The ritual of Antim Ardas was organised by Sanyukta Kisan Morcha and Bharatiya Kisan Union leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Darshan Singh Pal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Dharmendra Malik and local farm union leaders.

    Ashish grilled by SITPrime accused in the violence case, Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish, was taken to the Crime Branch office by the Special Investigative Team for interrogation. Her was sent to three days of police custody on Monday. Ashish was arrested on Saturday night. 

    Akhilesh calls for BJP ouster in ’22Embarking upon Samajwadi Vijay Yatra from the banks of River Ganga in Kanpur on Tuesday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, slammed the ruling BJP referring to Lakhimpur Kheri incident saying that the way it had crushed farmers, it would crush the Constitution of India if voted back to power in Uttar Pradesh.  The programme aims to cover all 403 Assembly segments before poll notification arrives.

    Cong memo to Prez on slain farmersA Congress delegation led by MP Rahul Gandhi will present a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind on the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri on Wednesday. The seven-member delegation will include leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge, A K Antony, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and K C Venugopal. The party has written to Kovind last week seeking an appointment with him.