No possibility of tie-up with Shiv Sena, says Congress
New Delhi, Aug 3 : As Shiv Sena continues to take potshots at BJP, the Congress does not appear keen on any alliance with it for the Lok Sabha or assembly polls with top party sources saying that talks can be held only with "like-minded and ideologically aligned parties."
Congress sources said the party was not likely to forge alliance with a party whose ideology is not aligned with its thinking.
"There will not be an alignment between their ideology and ours," the sources said.
Shiv Sena has been taking divergent stance from its ally BJP on several issues. It had boycotted the no-confidence motion against the Modi government.
Congress sources said the vision of Prime minister Narendra Modi was "fundamentally flawed" and the Opposition will take on the BJP on several issues including corruption, unemployment, rise in non-performing assets of banks, farm distress, demonetisation and flawed implementation of GST.
The sources said Congress will come up with a new vision in the 2019 elections.
They said it was "a manufactured idea" that Modi can not be defeated and that the BJP-led NDA government had looked invincible in 2004 too.
The sources said that the no-confidence debate in Parliament in which Congress President Rahul Gandhi hugged Modi showed to the country "who was Pappu."
About four states going to the polls later this year, the sources said if tickets are given to the right people, the party will win. They said the leadership will ensure that all leaders fight harmoniously and there is no infighting.
Party sources also referred to apprehensions among some opposition parties over use of EVMs.
The sources said there was a need for change in Congress also and a transition is taking place slowly.
They said the Congress will continue to be a mass-based party with a group of dedicated people running it.
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We need to create system in which people's skills get their due: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi (PTI): Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi Friday called for creating a system in which people's skills get their due and everyone's contribution is respected, as he shared a Diwali video in which he interacts with paint job workers and potters.
Posting the over nine-minute video which features him also having a conversation with his nephew Raihan Rajiv Vadra on YouTube, the former Congress chief said, "A memorable Diwali with special people - I celebrated this Diwali working with some painter brothers and making earthen diyas with a potter family."
"I saw their work closely, tried to learn their skills and understood their difficulties and problems. They don't go home. We celebrate festivals happily and to earn some money, they forget their village, city, family," Gandhi said.
"They make happiness from clay. While lighting up the festivals of others, are they able to live in light themselves? Those who build houses can hardly run their own houses!" he said.
Gandhi said Diwali means light that can remove the darkness of poverty and helplessness.
"We have to create such a system -- in which people's skills get their due and contribution is respected -- makes everyone's Diwali a happy one. I hope this Diwali brings prosperity, progress and love in the lives of all of you," he said.
In the video, Gandhi is seen working with labourers at the 10 Janpath residence and learning to paint walls along with his nephew. In the second part of the video, Gandhi goes to the house of a woman who makes earthen lamps with her five daughters.
Gandhi tries his hand at pottery and makes 'diyas', which he says he would give to his mother and sister.
Since his Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra and his Manipur to Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Gandhi has been interacting with a cross-section of people from mechanics and cobblers to labourers and bus drivers.
He often posts videos of his numerous interactions and highlights the plight of various sections of society.
