Rahul's first press conference in Mumbai is 2.45 minutes long
Mumbai, June 13 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi's first ever press conference here on Wednesday turned out to be a huge disappointment -- it lasted for 2 minutes and 45 seconds.
The media briefing was organised by the Congress state and city units at a venue in Bandra at around 8.30 a.m. and mediapersons were barged with multiple reminders.
Over 100 representatives from print, electronic and online media turned up and patiently waited for Gandhi, who breezed in almost an hour later.
After the initial introductions, a question was put to the Congress chief whether he would be willing to take over the leadership of the opposition alliance before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Brushing it aside, Gandhi repeated his criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
This also lasted less than two minutes. Then he thanked everyone and suddenly got up, ending the press conference abruptly.
A party official later said: "Rahulji was getting delayed for his onward journey to Nagpur and Nanded and other engagements."
Many mediapersons had left their homes at 6 a.m. to reach the Bandra venue on schedule. An apologetic Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam blamed it all on a PR team.
"We had clearly said he would give a few bytes to the electronic media. The print media was also specifically informed that he will not take any questions. The programme went as scheduled," Nirupam told IANS.
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If somebody breaks into my house, they’re getting shot: Kamala Harris
Michigan: Kamala Harris participated in a star-studded rally hosted by Oprah Winfrey in Michigan, aiming to energise voters ahead of the crucial November 5 election. During the event, which featured appearances from Hollywood stars like Jennifer Lopez and Meryl Streep, Harris discussed key campaign issues, including abortion, the economy, and gun control.
In a light-hearted moment, she stated, “I'm a gun owner too; if somebody breaks into my house, they're getting shot,” before joking about the potential backlash from her staff. The rally was part of Harris's strategy to unify voters against the divisive politics represented by former President Donald Trump.
While Harris gained traction from a recent poll showing her leading in Pennsylvania, the race remains tight nationwide. Trump, in contrast, held a darker event where he criticised Jewish Americans for their voting patterns, suggesting that their support would be critical to his campaign.
As the election nears, both candidates are actively seeking support from key demographics, including unions and various community groups. Harris's campaign faces challenges, particularly in areas with significant Arab-American populations opposed to U.S. policies regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict.
