No ordinary election, it's to save Constitution, democracy: Rahul to Cong workers
New Delhi (PTI): A day before the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday told party workers that this is no ordinary election but one to save the Constitution, and exhorted them to tell people that the BJP is "destroying the idea of India".
In a video message, Gandhi told the Congress workers that they have a huge responsibility.
"You are the backbone of our party. I thought that since it is election time, I should talk to you directly. This is not an ordinary election, this is an election to save the Constitution and democracy in which 'Babbar Sher' (lion-hearted) workers like you have a huge responsibility," Gandhi said in his message delivered in both Hindi and English.
"This is because the thinking and ideology of the Congress party is ingrained in you, it is in your veins," he said.
The BJP-RSS are against the idea of India, Gandhi said.
"They are attacking our Constitution, the country's democratic structure, our institutions, including the Election Commission, as well as the legal framework of India," he alleged.
"You fight against the ideology of the RSS on the streets, in villages, and everywhere. You are the defenders," he told the workers.
Gandhi asserted that the Congress is going to defeat the BJP and its ideology.
He asked the Congress workers to tell the public that the BJP is attacking India and "destroying the idea of India" as well as the Constitution.
Terming the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls excellent, Gandhi listed the party's guarantees such as giving Rs 1 lakh annually to one woman from every poor family, right to apprenticeship, legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for farmers, eliminating contract labour, providing 30 lakh government jobs, scrapping the Agniveer scheme and fixing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system.
"We have prepared this manifesto after listening to the public. You tell the people of the country about this," the former Congress chief said.
"You helped us bring key ideas from the people of India into our manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. We rely on you and we love you. I send you my best wishes," he said.
The Congress released its 45-page manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, titled 'Nyay Patra', on April 5.
Tagging Gandhi's video message to workers on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "A day before the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, do watch this video message from Rahul Gandhi. The response coming from the grassroots level shows that Congress workers across the country are very excited about this election."
"The Modi government's departure is certain, now we just wait for June 4," he said.
The counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections, which will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, will be taken up on June 4.
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4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
