Launching her campaign in Uttar Pradesh with a three-day steamer ride on the Ganga, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra on Monday told residents of Prayagraj that she had stepped out of her home as the country and the Constitution were in danger.
Ms. Vadra accused the Narendra Modi government of destroying all the institutions in the country and trying to control everything.
“No country can function like this. I could have also sat at home. I sat home for many years...Why have I come out today? I came out because the country is in danger; our Constitution is under threat. Recognise this and wake up to it,” Ms. Vadra told a gathering at Sirsa ghat on her way from Prayagraj to Varanasi via Bhadohi.
Ms. Vadra began her unusual campaign with prayers at the Hanuman temple at the sangam. The Congress promptly shared on social media an old photo of former prime minister and Ms Vadra’s grandmother Indira Gandhi also at the same temple with the caption — tradition and customs never change.
Interacting with local people at Dumduma ghat, Ms. Vadra took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for calling himself “Chowkidar,” (watchman) by narrating what potato farmers from western U.P. had told her.
“One farmer, a brother, said something important. Farmers don’t have any chowkidar ; only the rich have chowkidars . The farmers are their own chowkidars ,” Ms. Vadra said to a loud applause.
Targeting the Modi government at several small gatherings and interactions, Ms. Vadra said the main problem facing the youth and the farmers was that “instead of working on solving problems”, the government was raising issues that had nothing to do with the livelihood or future of the people.
As the boat moved out from Manaiya ghat, the Congress general secretary waved and shouted out to people on the bank, interacted with women students on the boat and clicked selfies with them.
Through her speeches, Ms. Vadra tried to project the Modi government as being sympathetic to a few industrialists, saying their debts were waived off easily, while common people who raised their voice for their rights were suppressed under this government.
“You are going to take a big decision in this election. This election is not just for your interests, but of the whole country,” said Ms. Vadra, telling crowds, “the country is yours and the politics is yours.”
She reminded voters of the development schemes run by the previous UPA government, like the MNREGA, and assured them that if they voted the Congress to power, their problems would be solved.
During the course of the day, she also held a small padhyatra, where she breached security many times to shake hands of onlookers, even accepting a glass of juice on one occasion.
