Amethi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, took yet another dig at BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi over his ‘shehzada’ remark about Rahul Gandhi. Priyanka is campaigning in Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency of her brother and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.

1. Camp: Amethi
Date: 29th April, 2014
Time: 1.45 pm
Priyanka Gandhi in Amethi hits back at Modi for his Shehzada jibe on Rahul Gandhi
Amethi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, took yet another dig at
BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi over his ‘shehzada’ remark about Rahul Gandhi. Priyanka is campaigning in
Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency of her brother and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
“When Rajiv Gandhi had initiated landmark programmes like computer revolution, he had to face a lot of criticism from the very
same people who are now lampooning Rahul Gandhi. Top leaders of a party (BJP) make fun of Rahul (Gandhi). At times they call
him specimen, at times they compare him to a comedian, at times they call him shehzada...you dream of becoming the PM, then
why behave childishly” said the Congress campaigner.
“They must tell people what are their specific plans for employment generation, development and women empowerment. Half
of BJP’s manifesto is just a copy of Congress’. There are no specific programmes or schemes in it” asserted Priyanka Gandhi.
“The people, must therefore, decide what type of government they need and what sort of politics they are looking for. India has
a rich tradition and culture and several Congress leaders sacrificed their lives to protect those values. All people – Hindu,
Muslim, Sikh, Christians – all live in harmony here. Be vigilant enough against those divisive, destructive and negative forces,
which spread hatred and anger among the people and make people, fight each other. When their leaders come to you then you
must ask them to talk only about development. Ask them about their plans for your welfare. If you remain vigilant, politicians
will be more careful” he underlined.
“It is the people who possess the power. The voting right is your biggest strength. You must never forget this and should never
waste this chance. It is your love that brings leaders like me to stand in front of you. It is the people who create leaders. The first
and foremost quality a leader must have is respect towards people. They must be open to realise the pains of the people. No
leader has the right to mislead you” explained the star campaigner for the Congress party in Amethi.
“So think wisely before casting your votes. You must vote not for Rahul Gandhi, for Amethi but for the nation. Your votes must
be to strengthen our country to protect its cultural ethos and values. Amethi has always been a model for others. So you must
show path to others what kind of politics the country requires. You must tell others that we need a clean politics, which aims
development, understands people’s issues and put in honest efforts to find solutions for their grievances” she argued.

2. “I am here to convey this to you, on behalf of Rahul Gandhi as he is busy campaigning across the country. So go to vote on 7th
(May) in the same way as you have assembled here today, think about my words, and take a decision to strengthen the hands of
Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, so that our country will go from strength to strength” concluded Priyanka Gandhi..
Text of the speech by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Amethi on 29th April, 2014
My father Rajiv (Gandhi) Ji was your Member of Parliament. The elderly citizens who have come here must be remembering
what he had done for Amethi.
He (Rajiv Gandhi) was a man people used to instantly relate to with love because of his gentleness. His other plus point was that
he was a visionary. He had a great love for the people of Amethi and you also had loved him. If he (Rajiv Gandhi) has done any
development work like BHEL, Fursatganj airport, then that was not limited to one particular area, in fact, the spill over effect of
development could be seen in near-by areas. He also put in his efforts to improve connectivity here and all his development
initiatives were with a farsighted vision. Even today the people enjoy benefits of his visionary works.
Rahul Gandhi also has the same far sighted vision in his approaches. He follows his father’s footsteps. All his plans, programmes
and policies for Amethi have been to empower people and to ensure welfare. This is election time and several candidates and
leaders from other parties are coming to you. Some of them allege that no development took place here in Amethi under Rahul
Gandhi. There some other leaders, sit in closed rooms and tell media persons that there is no electricity here. They do not
understand the ground reality on what types of development has been taking place here and what all are the hindrances. Let me
share some of the development initiatives taken by Rahul Gandhi for your information.
I want to tell my sisters the success of a far sighted vision. You are aware of SHG (Self Help Group) and RGMVP (Rajiv Gandhi
Mahila Vikas Pariyojana). I had started this in 2002 in a small manner. He asked me why we cannot implement it across Uttar
Pradesh and the country. Rahul Gandhi then strengthened it further and wanted to spread its activities to other places. After his
involvement, this programme reached new heights. He took this movement beyond some villages here and today, there are
about 12 lakh women, connected with SHG here and one must realise how this scheme has boosted the confidence of women,
helped to reform their lives and to become self reliant.
Rahul Gandhi also brought milk revolution here. Earlier, milk used to come from outside the area. Rahul Gandhi established 3
chilling plants here which eventually helped for this revolutionary progress in milk supply. Today truck- loads of milk go to across
India, and for it the actual credit goes to Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi further thought how we can ensure better connectivity to Amethi with other regions so that people can move to
other places and the crops of the farmers also can reach outside Amethi. Today there are seven National Highways passing
through Amethi. He also made roads built through PMGSY in all villages with the population of more than 1000. Several electric
polls were erected in the villages but providing electricity is state government’s duty. Sonia (Gandhi) ji had requested Mulayam

3. Singh (Yadav) ji regarding this and the state government did some positive moves on this. But some other opposition parties
have approached Court asking what is special with Amethi and Raebareli. Because of their objection, there is scarcity for
electricity here. Today, the same people, who had denied electricity to you, come here and say there is no electricity here and
blame Rahul Gandhi for it. You must know the truth and also must be aware of the real problems. Our intention is very pure and
the issues are here due to the issues connected with state government.
Due to his initiatives Amethi has several educational and technical institutes in the area between Jayes and Fursatganj. It will not
only help youth get proper education but will also bring in tremendous economical growth in the whole region. We have FDDI,
Petroleum institute, IIIT, Kendreeya Vidyalaya, 3 model schools and Navodaya Vidyalaya as well as we have Kasturba Gandhi
BalikaVidyalay in every block, in the area between Fursatganj and Jayes. We have now several trains passing through Amethi and
increased stoppages in your region. All these increase the connectivity and benefit the people of Amethi in a big way.
You must have heard about the food park project in Jagadishpur. Rahul Gandhi has launched a mega food park project over
there which will help farmers in a big way. Their produces will be processed and stored properly.
When Rajiv Gandhi had initiated landmark programmes like computer revolution, he had to face a lot of criticism from the very
same people who are now lampooning Rahul Gandhi. Top leaders of a party (BJP) make fun of Rahul (Gandhi). At times they call
him specimen, at times they compare him to a comedian, at times they call him shehzada...you dream of becoming the PM, then
why behave childishly.
They must tell people what are their specific plans for employment generation, development and women empowerment. Half of
BJP’s manifesto is just a copy of Congress’. There are no specific programmes or schemes in it.
The people, must therefore, decide what type of government they need and what sort of politics they are looking for. India has a
rich tradition and culture and several Congress leaders sacrificed their lives to protect those values. All people – Hindu, Muslim,
Sikh, Christians – all live in harmony here. Be vigilant enough against those divisive, destructive and negative forces, which
spread hatred and anger among the people and make people, fight each other. When their leaders come to you then you must
ask them to talk only about development. Ask them about their plans for your welfare. If you remain vigilant, politicians will be
more careful.
It is the people who possess the power. The voting right is your biggest strength. You must never forget this and should never
waste this chance. It is your love that brings leaders like me to stand in front of you. It is the people who create leaders. The first
and foremost quality a leader must have is respect towards people. They must be open to realise the pains of the people. No
leader has the right to mislead you.
So think wisely before casting your votes. You must vote not for Rahul Gandhi, for Amethi but for the nation. Your votes must be
to strengthen our country to protect its cultural ethos and values.

4. Amethi has always been a model for others. So you must show path to others what kind of politics the country requires. You
must tell others that we need a clean politics, which aims development, understands people’s issues and put in honest efforts to
find solutions for their grievances.
I am here to convey this to you, on behalf of Rahul Gandhi as he is busy campaigning across the country. So go to vote on 7th
(May) in the same way as you have assembled here today, think about my words, and take a decision to strengthen the hands of
Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, so that our country will go from strength to strength.
Thank you.
Jai Hind.