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the winds of hate with love.” She seems • Debut made Priyanka’s arrival as a political
to have taken a cue from the Prime leader is seen as a fresh change in Congress
Minister, Narendra Modi who had been
using word “fitrat” too often. In fact, at brotherhood. It is sad at what is hap-
his Ahmedabad rally, Modi had talked pening in the country these days. There
about the “fitrat to avenge every wrong- is no bigger patriotism than aware-
doing and hunt down terrorists in their ness. Your awareness is a weapon; your
own backyard”. vote is a weapon. It is a weapon that will
PM Modi had said: “Chun chun not hurt or harm anyone. It is a weap-
ke hisab lena mera fitrat hai. (It is my on that will strengthen you,” she said.
nature to avenge every wrongdoing)” Priyanka Gandhi was the star speaker
The words were directed at Pakistan, at the rally.
days after India sent its fighter jets to Before the rally at Gandhinagar, the
bomb a terror camp in Balakot across Congress Working Committee came
the border. The air strikes were in out with its resolution which read “
response to a suicide attack in Kash- On this 89th anniversary of the Dan-
mir’s Pulwama on February 14, in which di Satyagrah, the Congress Working
40 soldiers were killed. Committee is meeting in the land of
Priyanka Gandhi made her point birth of the Father of the Nation, who
clear when she said that Lok Sabha had courageously led the historic
polls are no less than a second fight for struggle of Indian people to liberate
“independence”, Priyanka took digs at India from British imperialism. This
the Prime Minister, without naming year, India will commemorate the
him as to where were the two crore 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma of the Jalianwala Bagh massacre. The
jobs and 15 lakh in every account, Gandhi, recognising that the values he Congress Party recalls with respect
also women’s security. Addressing an espoused, have an enduring relevance those who sacrificed their lives for our
audience in Prime Minister Narendra not only for India but the entire world”. freedom and salutes their martyrdom.
Modi’s Gujarat she: “Your vote is your Gujarat also gave to the nation Sardar This meeting of the CWC took place
weapon. Make the right decision, ask Vallabhbhai Patel — an ardent follower in the painful backdrop of the das-
the right questions.” of Mahatma Gandhi and a front rank- tardly terror attack in Pulwama and
This election is “nothing less” than ing leader of India’s freedom move- the tragic killing of forty Jawans of the
the Independence movement. “Think ment, who is remembered for his in- CRPF, which has outraged India and its
and decide - those who talk big in front domitable spirit. people. This attack is a grim reminder
of you, where are the jobs they prom- This meeting of the CWC, saluting of the serious threat posed by the forces
ised? What about Rs. 15 lakh in every the memory of Gandhi ji, Pandit Jawa- of terrorism to the unity and integ-
bank account that they talked about? harlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and the lead- rity of our country. The Congress Party
What about women’s safety?” she said ers of the freedom struggle, recalls their unequivocally condemned the attack
at the rally in Ahmedabad, dressed in a unflinching commitment to the unity and expressed its solidarity with our
white and blue sari. of the Indian people and in upholding soldiers and Armed Forces. Congress
Huge cutouts of her grandmother the composite culture of our multilin- President offered the Congress Party’s
Indira Gandhi at the venue in Gandhi- gual, multi-religious and multi-cultural support to the Government in the hour
nagar reminded many in the crowds society. They all believed in harmoni- of national crisis.
of her striking resemblance to the ous coexistence of Indian people, cele- The CWC resolution said that “India
former prime minister. She said in brated its pluralism, and firmly rejected as a mature democracy has different
the next two months, “they will raise the divisive and pernicious ideology of viewpoints and ideologies represented
all kinds of issues. Ask the right ques- Hindutva propagated by the RSS and its by different political parties. Dissent
tions, this is your country. You have affiliates. and articulation of ideological differ-
to guard the country. “This is nothing The resolution said that the “Prime ences are integral to our political narra-
less than the independence movement. Minister Modi and the BJP are insulting tive, especially during elections. These
Our institutions are being attacked, their struggle, sacrifices and enormous must not be mistaken as weakness or
hatred is being spread everywhere. contribution in nation building by bra- disunity of the country”. The CWC sends
There can be a no bigger thing than zenly seeking to hijack their legacy a stern and unequivocal message to In-
guarding the country and moving and pretending to be the champions dia’s enemies that India stands united
ahead together.” of their values”. The resolution said and resolute as one nation to confront
“This nation is based on love and that 2019 will also mark the centenary and defeat their nefarious agenda. In-

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