Would prefer a woman with mix of qualities of my mother, grandmother: Rahul Gandhi on life partner
New Delhi, Dec 28: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that he would prefer to settle down in life with a partner who has a mix of qualities of both his mother Sonia Gandhi and grandmother Indira Gandhi.
In an interview to a YouTube channel during the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', he termed his grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi as "the love of my life and my second mother".
Asked whether he would settle down with a woman like her, Gandhi said, "That is an interesting question... I would prefer a woman... I do not mind... she has got qualities. But, a mix between my mother's and grandmother's qualities is good."
The former Congress chief, who is on a padayatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, also talked about his love for driving motorcycles and cycles, and referred to a Chinese electric company which manufactures bicycles and mountain bikes with electric motors.
"I have driven an electric scooter, but never an electric bike. Have you seen this Chinese company... There are cycles and mountain bikes with electric motors. Very interesting concept. But, they are good," he said.
Gandhi, who shared the interview on his Twitter handle, said he does not own a car and have a CR-V, which is his mother's.
"I have really not been interested in cars. I am not interested in motor bikes, but I am interested in driving motor bikes. I can fix a car. But, I am not obsessed with cars. I like the idea of moving fast, the idea of moving in the air, the idea of moving in water and on moving in the land," he said.
He also noted that he found more beauty in an old Lambretta rather than an R1, and claimed that he preferred cycling to motor-cycling as it has the concept of using one's own power.
On his detractors calling him names, the Gandhi scion said, "I do not care. Whatever you want to say, it does not matter. I do not hate anyone. You abuse me or even hit me, I would not hate you."
On being called "Pappu", he termed it a propaganda campaign and said those calling him so are doing it out of the fear inside them. "Nothing is happening in his life, he is sad as his relations in life are not fine. That is why he is abusing someone else, it is ok. I welcome it. Abuse more. I like it. You can give me more names, I do not care. I am relaxed."
About the electric vehicle (EV) revolution in India, he said, "I do not think we are doing what needs to be done for it to happen. Because, an EV revolution requires a foundation and we are nowhere there."
He noted that the foundation of producing batteries, motors and infrastucture is not there. "It is not strategically done, it is all ad hoc. They do not really understand how it is supposed to be done."
Gandhi also noted that the other revolution that India has missed, about which he is very passionate about, is the drone revolution.
The same people who attacks me 24 7 used to call my grandmother as “Goongi Gudiya”.
— Shantanu (@shaandelhite) December 27, 2022
I would prefer a woman who is like something between my grandmother and mother.
— @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/baF1AelvWg
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Crossing river, trekking hill voters reach polling booths to cast vote in Surguja LS constituency
Balrampur/Chhattisgarh (PTI): Enthusiastic voters reached polling booths trekking steep hilly paths, crossing a river and even on a horse to cast their votes in remote areas of the tribal-dominated Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, officials said.
Balrampur district falls under the Surguja Lok Sabha constituency which was among seven seats where polling was held in third and last phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state. The Surguja Lok Sabha recorded 74.59 per cent voting, as per the Turnout application.
Voters, belonging to Pahadi Korva, a particularly vulnerable tribal group, including Rajesh, Madan, Sukhu, Gopal and Nandlal, crossed a river to exercise their franchise at a polling booth in village panchayat Amera under the Samri assembly constituency, a government official said.
Similarly, electors, including Lakhan Nagesia, Sahu, Phulsai and Kalesh of Bachwar village under the Ramanujganj assembly constituency walked through hilly terrain for about two hours covering 8 kms to reach a polling booth and cast their vote, he said. A voter, Parimal Dey, reached a polling booth in Sagarpur village under the Ramanujganj assembly seat on a horse, the official said. Dey is a cattle rearer who owns 150 goats.
Two hyper sensitive polling booths -- Chunchuna and Pundag -- located in a Naxal-affected area of the district which shares border with Jharkhand, also recorded significant turnout, he said. The two booths are located in the Samri assembly constituency.
"Special security arrangements were put in place in this area to ensure peaceful voting. Voters of Chunchuna and Pudang ensured their participation in the great festival of democracy braving Naxalite threat," he said. The Chunchuna polling booth has 767 voters and it recorded 84.35 per cent turnout, while Pundag has 595 electors and it registered a turnout of 72.44 per cent till 5 pm, the official added.
