Chennai: You can’t have a negative, fearful atmosphere in the country and expect economic growth, which is directly related to the mood of the country, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said this morning.
He was in the city to interact with women students at Stella Maris College before proceeding to Kanyakumari to address an election rally.
He told the students, probably most of them first-time voters, the Congress will change the mood of the country and make people feel happy and empowered.
Looking dapper in jeans and T-shirt, the Congress president, who asked the students to address him as Rahul and not sir, said the law must apply to everybody and not selectively. He said this in response to a question about his brother-in-law Robert Vadra against whom there are money-laundering cases.
Continuing his tirade against Prime Minister Modi, he brought up the issue of the Rafale deal and reiterated his allegations about the pricing of the aircraft and the process.
“I will be the first person to say it… investigate Robert Vadra but also investigate Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.
Stating that the Congress would pass the women’s reservation bill it if it came to power, Rahul told the cheering girls, “Don’t see enough women in leadership positions. You cannot have women in power in India until attitude towards them changes.”
In response to a question, he said he had learnt the lessons of humility and love from his mother Sonia Gandhi. He asked the gathering, “Did you like demonetisaton?” When the audience answered, “No”, he said, “I think it’s pretty clear the damage demonetisaton did. PM should have taken your advice.”
Rahul, who urged the students to challenge him and “make him uncomfortable” with questions, wondered whether the Prime Minister could stand in the midst of a large audience and answer their questions.