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a convention of 'Mahila Congress' in the capital on the 70th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi today, she promised that the party would not give up the fight for making the Women Reservation bill a reality. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi called for a "Tsunami of Mahila Congress" and assured of greater representation for women in ticket distribution and within the party.
Reminding the audience that it was the Congress led UPA that had brought in women friendly laws the Domestic Violence bill, the MNREGA and the Gandhi alleged that the new government had attempted to hijack the welfare programmes of the UPA and take credit for it.
"Today, we are in the opposition but, the Congress will not withdraw from its commitment to women's reservation and we will build full pressure on the NDA government to pass the bill as soon as possible," she said.
Urging Congress men and women not to be disheartened by defeat, Congress President, "May be the path of our struggle is a bit longer and we may have to work a little more. But if all of us work hard and do it together, the day is not far when Congress will regain its peak."
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi who also addressed the gathering said,"The way Tsunami had come, a Tsunami of Mahila Congress is also to come in Congress. Fill Congress with the strength of women and I will field you from wherever you can fight--be it panchayat, assembly or Parliamentary elections."
Rahul Gandhi told party workers that the fight with the BJP government in power was not just of power politics but a battle of ideologies. "A government has been formed here. This is a battle of ideologies. This is a battle of the thought process."
Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar who also spoke at the event took a job at Narendra Modi and said, "If you bring such women who are active in public life into Congress, Modiji will have to go to Gandhinagar by tomorrow and then we will drive him to the seashore." Aiyar has in the past ridiculed Modi calling him a "chai wallah."
