Modi taught me what not to do, says Rahul

The Congress on Tuesday gave a major jolt and a political lesson to the Modi led Bharatiya Janata party in the Hindi heartland by winning elections in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and having a close fight in Madhya Pradesh. Shattering at the same time the BJP’s done-todeath chant of a ‘Congress mukt’ Bharat, a determined Congress President Rahul Gandhi enthused party cadres by voicing optimism of dethroning the BJP in the 2019 General elections.

Addressing a crowded media conference at the party headquarters on Akbar Road on Tuesday eve, the Congress President began by congratulating party workers and said, “This is a victory of party workers, small traders, youth and farmers. This is a clear message to the Prime Minister and BJP that the country is not happy with what they are doing. Tuesday’s result is a clear indication that BJP will not have it easy in the upcoming elections in 2019. I have been saying it for some time. I think with a resurgent Congress party in these States and other States where BJP is ruling, alongwith the combined opposition, it is going to become very difficult for the Prime Minister and the BJP to win elections.”

Rahul, who has for long braved harsh labels as ‘Pappu’ saddled with the compulsive burden of carrying forth the legacy of the nation’s first political family, beamed with joy as he congratulated party workers. He said that although he is from the Opposition, he feels bad for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who got a massive opportunity in 2014 but did not hear the heartbeat of the countrymen and the farmers. “This is a great country. We have to learn from what people feel.”

He also reminded the BJP that it had become arrogant. “Time has come for a change in these States. The youth of the States, farmers, shopkeepers small business owners have all supported to them. We are going to provide the States with a vision and a State that they can be proud of,” he said.

Gandhi said that “the Prime Minister was elected on three platforms - fight against corruption, unemployment and farmers issues. The reality is that there was corruption in Rafale. Clearly, a message has gone to the Prime Minister. India is facing a job crisis. We have said that when we form the government, we will waive off the debts of farmers”

In the same breath, he added that loan waiver is a measure, not a solution to farmers’ distress. ”We will fight against the ideology of the BJP. There are couple of central issues- how we are going to give jobs to our youngsters, how agriculture fits into our economic vision,” Rahul said.

Replying to a question, he said that selection of Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will be done in a smooth manner.

Flashing his dimpled smile, Gandhi said that he was “quite happy with what we have achieved” but wished the party had done better in Telangana. “I was telling my mother that the absolute best thing for me was the 2014 election. I learnt a lot from that election. I learnt that the most important thing is humility. “Frankly Narendra Modi taught me the lesson what not to do,” he added.

Looking at the election results in Telangana and Mizoram, the Congress President said, “In states we lost- Mizoram and Telangana, we congratulate those who won.