After Sonia Gandhi’s 19 years long reign, Rahul Gandhi took over as Congress president on Saturday morning in a grand ceremony held at 24 Akbar Raod party headquarters in New Delhi. After former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi’s speeches, Rahul delivered his first speech as president, thanking millions of Congress workers for choosing him as their leader. Rahul took the opportunity to set a positive tone for the party workers at a time when the party is at historic low in terms of electoral performance. He also launched frontal attack on Narendra Modi-led BJP government. Here are 10 defining quotes from his speech:
On PM Modi
“Prime Minister is taking the country down the medieval path. People are being butchered for what they eat.”
On Current Political Discourse (In Hindi)
“Once you set something on fire, it is very difficult to douse it. I have been trying to tell this to the BJP leaders. Today, the only one trying to douse the fire is Congress. They preach hate, we preach love.”
To Congress Workers (In Hindi)
“All Congress workers are my family. I will love you from the bottom of my heart.”
On Personal Belief
“Like millions of Indians, I am an idealist. I joined politics because of my profound belief in my countrymen. Politics of our times is devoid of kindness and truth. It is devoid of common man’s concerns. Politics is being used to crush ordinary people. It should be a tool to lift them up.”
On Way To Fight BJP
“BJP is a party of soldiers fighting for themselves… We still consider the BJP workers as our brothers and sisters. Though we don’t agree with them, we can’t fight hate with hate. We will meet our challengers with love and affection. They might control the structures of power, but we are the bastion of the people.”
On Grand Old Tag
“We are known as a Grand Old Party, but in coming days we will make it the Grand Old and Young Party. I invite the youth to build a compassionate and loving India.”
On Bullying
“Their power his manipulative is destructive. They believe in bullying. Stand up to them. Congress will never back down... We will protect the history, the present and the future of India.”
On Freedom Of Speech
“We will defend the voice of every single Indian. Not one of them will be silenced. I wish to be part of an awakening to restore India's glory… People are being denied right to disagree.”
Accepting Presidentship
“In 13 years of my political career, I have learned from Manmohan Singh Ji, Sonia Ji and every Congress worker. I thank you for your lessons. It is with utmost humility that I accept this position, knowing that I will always be walking in the shadow of the giants.”
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