WATCH | Priyanka’s maiden speech triggers memories of Indira Gandhi

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday addressed her first election rally in 2019 in Gujarat, the home turf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a state which has been ruled unhindered by the BJP for the last 24 years.

In measured tones she called upon the people to defeat politics of hate by fostering harmony and non-violence.

“The credit of building India goes to the peace-loving people of India and not to any single party or individual. It is in your hands to uphold the integrity of the country. So, exercise your vote judiciously in the coming Lok Sabha elections,” she said.

Priyanka’s tone, style of speech and body language had an uncanny resemblance with her grandmother’s. A blind person, who had the chance of having heard the speech of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, would have mistaken Priyanka for Mrs Gandhi, so striking was the resemblance.

The speech was without rancour with not a trace of caustic comment or sarcasm against her political opponents, the BJP leaders. Nevertheless, she targeted the Modi government over "unkept promises and spread of hatred" in the country.

Addressing her first rally after assuming charge as Congress general secretary, she said she was saddened by what was happening in the country.

"Our institutions are being destroyed. Wherever you see, hatred is being spread," she said.

"Nothing matters more to us than you and I protect this nation, work for it and move forward together," the Congress leader said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, on the other hand, delivered a fiery speech and launched a frontal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Modi has stolen Rs. 30,000 crore from the Indian Air Force and given them to Anil Ambani. Modi had sought votes saying he would guard the country like a chowkidar (watchman). But the chowkidar has turned out to be …..” (Rahul paused). “Chor, chor, chor!” a chant rose from the crowd.

Rahul repeated the word “Chowkidar” three times, eliciting the same response from the crowd. “You have given the answer. I need not elaborate any more”, he said.

The Congress rally, held after the Congress Working Committee meet, held in Gujarat after 58 years, was organised on a ground mid-way between Ahmedabad, the commercial capital, and Gandhinagar, the state capital.

Turning his attention on the Pulwama terror attack and the subsequent air strike by India and the aerial engagement with Pakistan Air Force the next day, Gandhi said it was National Security Adviser Ajit Doval who had sent Jaish-e- Mohammed chief Massod Azhar to freedom in a "special plane".

"Who sent Pulwama terror attack perpetrator Masood Azhar to Pakistan?" he asked the crowd.

"Masood Azhar was sent in a special aircraft and NSA Ajit Doval accompanied him," Gandhi answered his query for the crowd.

He reminded his audience that the Mirage aircraft used by the Indian Air Force to strike at the JEM training centre in Pakistan were manufactured and upgraded by Hindustan aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), which the Modi government dumped in favour of Anil Ambani while negotiating the Rafale deal.