Defending the Constitution is India’s main battle: Rahul Gandhi at the Wayanad rally

Latest update:November 03, 2024 07:03 PM IST

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha noted that this is a fight between love and hate.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a rally in Mananthavady, Wayanad, Kerala.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday stressed that the main struggle in the country today is to protect and preserve the Constitution.

He said that the country’s Constitution was written not with hatred, but with humility and love.

“The main struggle in the country that is going on today is the fight for the Constitution of our country. The protection we get, the greatness of our country – all this flows from the Constitution,” the Lok Sabha MP said while addressing a corner meeting at Mananthavady here as part of campaign for his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Priyanka is the Congress candidate in the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election.

“The Constitution was not written with anger or hatred. It was written by people who fought the British, people who suffered, who spent years and years and years in prison. And they wrote the Constitution with humility, with love and with love,” he said.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha noted that this is a fight between love and hate.

“The struggle is between confidence and uncertainty. And if you really want to win this fight, then you must help by removing anger from your heart, removing hatred from your heart and replacing them with love, humility and compassion,” he told the meeting.

Rahul Gandhi highlighted his sister’s qualities and shared nostalgic childhood memories.

He also said he was seeking votes for the first time for his sister, who previously campaigned for him, and their parents.

“She came and hugged the girl who was involved in the murder of my father (Rajiv Gandhi). She told me that after she came back from meeting Nalini, she was emotional and then told me that I felt sorry for her,” recalls Rahul Gandhi.

“This is the training she received. And I believe that this is the type of policy that should be pursued in India. Not a politics of hatred, but a politics of love and affection.” During the second phase of her election campaign, Priyanka went on a tirade against the central government, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had done everything for his business friends.

“Modi Ji’s government works only for his friends, big businessmen. His goal is not to give you a better life. This is not a search for new jobs for educated young people. This is not to provide better healthcare, education and well-being to the people,” she said.

Priyanka accused the Modi government of dividing people, spreading hatred among them and depriving them of their rights, and damaging democratic institutions.

“They attacked Rahul Gandhi Ji for fighting for people’s rights,” the Congress leader said.

She also mentioned her work with Mother Teresa, as well as Sister Rosebell, who resides in Mananthavady.

Priyanka vowed to continue her struggle to establish a medical college here with full medical facilities.

In her speech, the Congress leader also highlighted the night ban, traffic problems on Ghat Road, human-animal conflicts, tribal and agrarian problems in the hill district.

Referring to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MGNREGA), which has greatly benefited the tribal community, she said the Centre’s funding for the program and the availability of jobs under the scheme have been reduced.

“We need to raise our voices in parliament and across all platforms to push the government for more funding.” Priyanka Gandhi resumed her campaign from Sunday by holding public and informal meetings in the Hill constituency with her brother Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress general secretary, making her electoral debut, will be in Kerala till November 7, according to her itinerary released by the party.

After meeting at Gandhi Park in Mananthavady here, she attended separate meetings in Walad and Koroma in Mananthavady Assembly constituency on Sunday.

Priyanka has resumed her campaign for the by-poll amid criticism from rival candidates that she will visit the constituency as a guest or for a seasonal festival.

The Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency consists of seven Assembly segments: Mananthavady (ST), Sultan Bathery (ST) and Kalpetta in Wayanad district, Thiruvambadi in Kozhikode district and Eranad, Nilambur and Vandur in Malappuram district.

The by-election to the Wayanad LS seat was required after Rahul Gandhi, who won the Lok Sabha polls from there and in Rae Bareli constituency, decided to vacate Wayanad.

Polling in Wayanad will take place on November 13.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news feed – PTI)