‘GST is Gabbar Singh Tax,’ Says Rahul Gandhi in Gandhinagar
Gandhi will take part in ‘Navsarjan Gujarat Janadesh’ rally organised by the party in Gandhinagar.
- “People of Gujarat won’t be silenced,” Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said at the OBC ‘Navsarjan Janadesh’ rally
- Gandhi also attacked the BJP over allegations of bribery against the party
- Gandhi met Patidar leader Nikhil Sawani, who resigned from the BJP on Monday
- OBC leader Alpesh Thakor officially joined the Congress party on Monday afternoon
- Congress has also invited Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani to “join hands against the BJP”
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is in Gujarat for the ‘Navsarjan Janadesh’ rally organised by the party in Gandhinagar.
The Quint’s Aviral Virk is at the rally in Gandhinagar. Stay tuned for all the live updates.
"Are Patel And Mevani Criminals", Thunders Gehlot
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot tweeted that the hotel rooms booked in his name were being checked by Intelligence Bureau and questioned “what was happening in Gandhi’s Gujarat”.
He tweeted that he did meet Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani, following which the rooms booked under his name were checked.
He questioned if Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani were considered “criminals or absconders” and that the BJP must clear its stand.
Voice of Gujarat Can't be Bought With Money: Rahul in Gandhinagar
“The voice of Gujarat cannot be silenced or bought with money,” Rahul Gandhi said in Gandhinagar on Monday. He also called the Centre’s Goods and Services Tax (GST), the ‘Gabbar Singh Tax.’
He also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his ‘Make In India’ programme, saying that 30 lakh people are unemployed in Gujarat
Gandhi attacked Modi for staying silent on Jay Shah, saying his company’s turnover spiked after PM Modi came into power.
Gandhi also asserted that the “Congress will win power in Gujarat in the upcoming elections,” adding that “it will be a government of the poor, of the youths and of the farmers.”
Patidar Leader Nikhil Sawani Meets Rahul
Rahul Gandhi on Monday met Patidar leader Nikhil Sawani.
Sawani quit the BJP on Monday a few hours after Hardik Patel’s aide Narendra Patel alleged that the BJP bribed him.
“I heard about the Rs 1 crore offer by BJP to Narendra Patel, I'm upset. Leaving BJP today,” Sawani said. “I wasn't offered money to join the BJP. Now I have resigned because they are just offering lollipops, fulfilling nothing,” he added.
Alpesh Thakor Officially Joins Congress
OBC leader Alpesh Thakor officially joined the Congress on Monday afternoon in the presence of party vice president Rahul Gandhi.
Contradictory Reports on Rahul Meeting Hardik
Rahul Gandhi met Hardik Patel at an Ahmedabad hotel, CNN-News18 reported on Monday. Patidar leader Dinesh Patel, however, said that the two did not meet on Monday and will meet when Gandhi visits Gujarat from 1-3 November.
Hardik Patel also met Ashok Gehlot at around 12:30 pm.
Rahul, Alpesh Meet in Ahmedabad
Rahul Gandhi met OBC leader Alpesh Thakor at the Taj Hotel in Ahmedabad, The Quint has learnt.
Rahul Arrives in Gujarat For the ‘Navsarjan Janadesh’ Rally
Rahul Gandhi has arrived in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, to take part in the OBC 'Navsarjan Janadesh Mahasammelan'.
BJP is Trying to 'Buy' Gujarat, Says Manish Tewari
The Congress in a press conference on Monday attacked the BJP saying that PM Modi “is acting more like the Gujarat CM than the PM” and that the “BJP fears losing in Gujarat”.
Rahul Reacts to Bribery Charges Against BJP
A few hours after Hardik Patel’s key aide Narendra Patel alleged that the BJP offered him Rs 1 crore to join the party, Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to react to the allegations.
Hardik Patel’s Aide Claims BJP Offered Him Rs 1 Cr to Join Party
Narendra Patel, a key aide of the leader of Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel, on Sunday, alleged that he was offered Rs 1 crore to join the BJP. Narendra Patel is the convener for the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti in north Gujarat.
The claim came in a late night press conference, on Sunday, hours after he had joined BJP. Patel claimed that he was paid a sum of Rs 10 lakh in advance on Sunday and was promised the remaining amount would be paid by Monday.
A few hours after Patel’s allegations, Patidar leader Nikhil Sawani who had joined the BJP also resigned from the party.
“I heard about the Rs 1 crore offer by BJP to Narendra Patel, I'm upset. Leaving BJP today,” Sawani said. “I wasn't offered money to join BJP. Now I have resigned because they are just offering lollipops, fulfilling nothing,” he added.
He also said that he will seek to meet Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and “put forward” his point of view.
Rahul Gandhi Likely to Meet Hardik Patel Today
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is likely to meet Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani during his visit to Gujarat on Monday ahead of the Assembly polls.
Gandhi will take part in the ‘Navsarjan Gujarat Janadesh’ rally organised by the party in Gandhinagar, where OBC leader Alpesh Thakor will join the Congress.
Congress' invite to Hardik Patel and Mevani came a day after its state unit president Bharatsinh Solanki extended an open invitation to Patel, Mevani and Thakor to join the party to ensure the ruling BJP's defeat.
Gandhi is also likely to meet Chotu Vasava, the leader of Janata Dal (U) in Gujarat, during his one-day visit.
The Congress, which has been out of power in Gujarat for 22 years, is wooing leaders such as Hardik Patel, Mevani and Thakor, who have significant support base in their respective communities.
Alpesh Thakor Joins Congress, PAAS Leaders Varun Patel, Reshma Patel Join BJP
Thakur community leader, Alpesh Thakor, confirmed on 21 October that he was joining the Congress. The convenor of the OBC, ST and ST Ekta Manch told ANI that he would join the national party after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi attends the Janadesh Sammelan on Monday.
On the same day, Hardik Patel's key aides – Varun Patel and Reshma Patel – announced that they are joining the ruling BJP. Varun Patel and Reshma Patel were among the prominent faces of the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and remained critical of the ruling BJP during the agitation.
GST, Farmers and Bullock Carts: Rahul's Previous Gujarat Campaign
Rahul Gandhi had on 25 September gone on a three-day long campaign for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections from the crucial Saurashtra region. The region has been electorally tough for the Congress for the last two decades. In the 2012 elections, Congress managed to win only 12 out the 52 seats in the region.
During the campaign, Rahul focussed on demonetisation, GST, development in Gujarat, farmers’ issues, and poverty in urban pockets.
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