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TranscriptofShriRahulGandhisspeechatAICCSession,Jaipur

CongressPresidentSoniaGandhiji,PradhanMantriDrManmohanSinghji,MembersoftheCongress

WorkingCommittee,PCCpresidentsandChiefMinistersofStatesandRajasthan,AICCMembers,

DelegatesoftheChintanShivir,Friends,Iwouldliketowelcomeallofyouhereandthankyouverymuch

forallthesupportyouhaveshowntome.

Therearealotofourworkerswhoarenotheretoday.Iwouldalsoliketothankthemfortheworkthey

doandforthebloodandsweattheygivetothisparty.

BeforeIbegin,Iwouldliketostatethatthisisahugehonourforme.Overthelast8years,thispartyhas

taughtmeatremendousamount.Ihavelearntfromtheseniorleadersandtheyoungstersofthisparty

andIwanttothankallofyoufromthebottomofmyheartforallthehelpanddirectionyouhavegiven

me.

TherearepeopleinSouthIndiawhowouldlikemetospeakinEnglishandtherearepeopleinNorth

Indiaandasisthetradition,IwillspeakinEnglishandthenIwillspeakinHindi.

In1947Indiawaslibratednotbyarmsbutbyunleashingthevoiceofourpeople,othercountriesfought

violently,othercountriesfoughtwithweapons,othercountriesfoughtwithdeath,Indiafoughtwith

non-Violenceandwithvoice.

Everybodytoldusthatitcanbedone;everybodytoldusthatifyouwanttogetridofBritishyouhave

touseviolenceandtheCongresspartysaidnowearenotgoingtouseViolencewearenotgoingtouse

Violenceandwedefeatedthebiggestempireofitstimeandwesendthemhome.Thiswasenergy

behindoffreedommovementvoicesmillionandmillionsofourvoices.

GandhijisuccessusledbyJawaharLalNehrufeedthevoiceofeveryIndianbyensuringthedemocracybecamethebetterofourconstitution.RelentlesslychampioningthevoiceofeveryIndianwillalwaysbe

theessenceofthecongresspartyandnotaIndianonecasteoronereligionIwouldliketorepeated

everysingleIndianisgoingtobesupported.

Nomatterwhoheis,ifheisIndianweworkforhim.Letslookatthelast60yearsofIndiassuccesses.

Theyhaveallcomewhenwegaveupthepeoplevoice.TheGreenrevolution,torestorethevoiceofthe

farmer,BankNationalisationtorestorethevoiceofthepoorandthemarketforcredit.TheITand

Telecomrevolutionsliteralygavethepeoplevoice,millionsofpeoplesvoiceandifyouhaveacellphone

inyourpockettodayitisresultofthatrevolution.

AnditsanhonourthatManmohanSinghjiissittingherebecausehespeareheadedanotherrevolution

in1991,heunleashthevoiceofthousandsinthefieldofentreprenuershipandchangethecountry

forever.TheUPAGovernmentisfollowedGandhijisModel.Itiscreatedtheplatformsforthosedenied

theirvoiceinthepoliticalsystem,forthefirsttimeinourhistoryourpeopleisbeinggureenteedtheir

basicrights,socialandeconomicheads.Thefoodbillwillensurethattruemotherseesherchildgo

hungryatnight,theRTIallowseverysingleIndiantopersonallytakeonthebattleagainstcorruption.

MANREGAisgivenmillionsofIndiansprideintheirwork,RighttoEducationenableseverychildto

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espiretogreatness.Alloftheseradicalinnovationswerepossibleonlybecauseofthegrowthprovided

bythecongresspartyandtheUPA.Buttherearemanychallangesahead.Thevoicesofthebillion

Indiansaretodaythattheywanttogreatersayingovernment,inpoliticsandinadministration.

Thiscantbedecidedbyhandfullofpeoplebehindcloseddoorswhoarenotfullyaccountabletothem.

TheyaretellingusthatIndiasgovernmentalsystemisstuckinthepastitisbecomeasystemthatrobspeopleoftheirvoice,asystemthatdis-empowersinsteadofempowering.Butwhyweareinthis

situation,whyisitIaskyou,thatourministriesdotheworkofPanchayats.WhyisittheSupremeCourt

handletheloadoflokhousesofjustice?WhyisittheCMsneedtoappointateacher?WhyaVCschosen

bypeoplewhofarremovedfromtheireducationsystems?Nomatterwhatstateyoulookat,Nomatter

whichpoliticalpartyyoulookatwhydoahandfulofpeoplecontroltheentirepoliticalspace?

Powerisgrosslycentralizedinourcountryweonlyempowerpeopleatthetopofasystem.Wedont

believeinempoweringpeopleallthewaytobottom.EverysingledayImeetpeoplewhohas

tremendousunderstandingdeepinsightandnovoiceandallofusmeetthem,theyareverywhere.But

almostalwaystheyarekeptoutsideourssystems,noonecantheirvoice,nomatterhowmuchtheytry

tospeaknoonelistens.AndthenImeetpeopleholdinghighpositionswithtremendousvoicebutno

understandingfortheissuesathand.Whythishappensisbecausewedontrespectknowledge.

Anditdoesnotmatterhowmuchwisdomyouhave..youmeannothing..ThisisthetragedyofIndia..

Whyisouryouthangry..whyaretheyoutonthestreet..Theyareangrybecausetheyarealienated

Theyareexcludedfromthepoliticalclass.Theywatchfromthesidelines..asthepowerfuldrivearound

intheirLalBattisWhyarethewomensuffering..becausetheirvoiceisbeingtrampleduponbypeople

whohavearbitrarypowersovertheirlives.Whyarethepoorconfinedtopowerlessnessandpoverty..

becausedecisionthedecisionovertheirlives..andtheservicestheyneedaredecidedbypeoplefar

away,answerabletothemonlyintheory..untilwestarttorespectandempowerpeopleforknowledge

andunderstand,wecantchangeanythinginthiscountryAllourpublicsystems,administration..

justiceeducation..politicalsystems..allofthemaredesignedtokeeppeoplewithknowledgeout..

Theyareallclosedsystems..Theyaredesignedtopromotemediocrityandmediocritydominates..

mediocritydominatesdiscussionwhilethevoiceofinsightandthoughtarecrushedbyloudnessofthose

whohaveneithertheunderstandingnorcompassion..successinthesesystemsdoesnotcomethrough

buildingitcomesbyexcluding..itcomesnotbypushingpeopleforwardbutbyholdingpeopleback

Tomaintainthestatusquo.Wedonotpraiseourcolleguesorlookattheirstrengthandallofusevery

singleofoneusdoesit.Wewontpraiseotherpeople.Weaskthembahiyawhatisyourweakness.We

onlylookoutthewaytoneutralizethemandeverysingledayallofusafacewiththehypocrisyofthe

system.Weallseeitandthenwepretenditisnotthere.Peoplewhoarecorruptstandup

andtalkabouteradicatingcorruptionandthenpeoplewhodisrespectwomeneverydayoverdayof

theirlifetalkaboutwomenrights.Untilwestarttorespecttheempoweredpeoplefortheir

knowledge,fortheirunderstandingwearenevergoingtochangethiscountry.WeneedtheAamAdmi

toparticipateinourpolitics.EvenwhenasIspeaktheirfutureisdecidedinthedisclosedroom.There

isanyoungandimpatientIndiaanditisdemandingthevoiceinthenationfuture.Letmetellyouthey

arenotgoingtowatchsilently.Ourprioritiesareclear.Thetimehascometoquestionthecentralized

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onresponsiveandonaccountablesystem,decisionmakingandgovernance,administrationandpolitics.

Theanswernottopeoplesayweneedtorunthesystembetter..Theanswerisnotinrunningthis

systembetter.

WehavetorelookatthingsinsystemandwehavetotransformthemcompletelyyetIamoptimistic,I

amnotpessimistic,andIamgoingtotellyouwhyIamoptimisticIamoptimisticbecausewehavealreadyputthebuildingblocksoftherevolutioninplace,andtoabigdegreeIwouldliketothankthe

CongressPresident,thePrimeministerandtheCongresspartyforputtingthesebuildingblocksinplace.

Letmetellyouwhatthesebuildingblocksare,firstofallIndiaismoreconnectedtodaythanitisever

being,wehavethenetworksofroads,information,communication,peopleandmediafornewideato

immergeforthemtodevelopandtakeflight.Itisnolongerpossibletolimitanideawhosetimehas

come.Aadhar,letmespeakaboutAadhar,itgivesusunprecedentalmechanismtorecognizetheunique

journeyofaspirationofeverysingleIndianomatterwhereheis.Directcashtransfer,isgoingtoallow

ustorespondusthesedreamswithanempoweringdeliveringsystem.Myfatherusetospeakabout15

paisatotherupeereachingthepeopleandwetodayarepreparingthesystemthatisgoingtoanswer

thatquestion,wearegoingtoanswerthatquestionand99%ofpeopleneedmoneycangotothem,itisarevolution,itisarevolutionandnoothercountryhasdoneitandwearepreparingthatrevolution

Congressisgivingthepeopletheydue,isnowcalledbribingthecountry,theysaybecausetheyscared,

theyunderstandwhatkindstermstheycando,andmostimportanttheycantunderstandforpeople

intheCongressparty,whatthethinkingintheCongressparty,PanchayatiRajandwomenselfhave

improvement,theygiventheplatformfordemocracythebalanceofnationaldecisions..mustshift

awaytoDelhiandthestatecapitalstothepanchayatandtotheworldandCongressPartymust

continuedtowaytoeventualbattletoovercomesocialpresidiumanddiscriminationagainstwomen,

dalit,minoritiesandtribesIamoptimisticbecauseofthebuildingsblock..butammostoptimistic

andexcitedbecauseIseetheenergy,thepassionandcapabilityinouryouth,bringingtorespondtotheirurgentdemandforjobsnow,ourinstitutions,learningandtrainingmustfirstinformedusto

repairingyouthinscalesforbestjobsinscaleforthebestjobintheworld,equallydecisionsthatmatter

tocreatingjobsneedtobefurtherliberatedirrationalredtapeandoutdatedlaws.Sothatthe

tremendousenergyofIndiayouthwillbefullyunleashed

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8,senior

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capability,partydepth

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ThismorningIgotupatnight,4OclockinthemorningIgotoutintothebalconyIthoughtNowyou

haveabigresponsibilityinfrontofyouandthispeoplearestandingbehindyou,peoplearestandingonyourside.ItwasdarkanditwascoldandIhaddecidedIamnotgoingtotellyouonlywhatyouwanted

tohear,IdecidedIgoannatellyoulittlebitaboutwhatIfeel,Iwanttellyouabouthope,andalsowant

totellyouaboutpower.

WhenIwasalittleboyIlovetoplaybadminton.Iloveditbecauseitgivesmebalanceinacomplicated

world.Iwastaughthowtoplayinmygrandmothershousebytwopolicemenwhoprotectedmy

grandmother.Theyweremyfriends,thenonedaytheykilledmygrandmotherandtookwaythe

balanceinmylife.IfeltpainthatIneverfeltbeforeandmanyofushaveexperiencedthissoyouwill

understandwhatIamsaying.

MyfatherwasinBengalandhecamebackthehospitalwasdarkgreenanddirty.Andtherewasahuge

crowdscreamingoutsidetheywereveryangryandasweenteredtheywerescreamingandshouting.It

wasthefirsttimeinmylifethatIsawmyfatherwascrying,hewasthebravestpersonIknewandyetI

sawhimcrying.

IwassmallbutIcouldseemyfatherwasbroken,hehadtakenawayhismotherandhewasbroken.In

thosedaysourcountrywasntwhatitistoday.Intheeyesoftheworldwehadnothing.Wewre

worthless.Wedidnthavemoney,wedidnthavecars,everybodysaidwerewereapoorcountry.

Nobodythoughtaboutus.SameeveningIwasmyfatheraddressingthenationontelevision.Iknewlike

mehewasbrokeninsideandevenlikemehewasterrifiedofwhatlayinfrontofhimbutwhenhe

spokethatnightIfeltthesmallglimmerofhope.Itwaslikeasmallrayoflightinadarksky.Icanstillrememberwhatitfeltlike.Ifyouthinkbacklotofyouwillalsorememberthis.ThenextdayIrealized

thatmanypeoplehadseenit.TodayasIlookbackandIhasapoliticalcareerof8yearsin42yearsIcan

seeitwasasmallrayofhopeinthedarknessthathelpedchangedIndiaintowhatIistoday.Without

hopeyoucannotachieveanything.Youcanhaveplans,youcanhaveideas,butunlessyouhavehope

youcannotchangeanything.Iwanttotalktoyouaboutpower.Lastnighteverysingleoneofyou

congratulatedme,manyofyoucameandhuggedmeandcongratulatedme.Everybodycongratulated

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mebutlastnightmymothercametomyroomandshecried,whydidshecried?shecriedbecauseshe

understandthatthepowersomanypeopleseekitsactuallyapoisonshecanseeit,whatitdoestoa

peoplearoundandtothepeopletheylovebutthemostimportantthatshecanseeit,shenotattached

toit,theonlyantipokedtothispoisonisforallofustoseeitforwhatitisreallyisandnotbecome

attachedtoit,weshouldnotchasedpowerforattributetosomepower,weshouldonlyuseitto

empowervoices.Inourworkitismymotherexperienceforthelifetimeitismyexperiencefor8years

andamsuremanyofyoutodealwithpowereveryday,understandwhatIamsayingandrealizethe

positiveandthenegative,andwemustnotforgetthatthereisnegative,thatyouhavetobevery

carefulwhenyoudoingadministerpower,whenyouusepower,todayIndiaisnotlikewhatitwasin

1984.

Wearenolongerworthless.

TodaytheentireworldiscoatingustodaywearethefutureandasIsaidbeforenationsarenotbuildon

schemeandfinance.Thereisafoundationofhope.IamstandingherebecauseIbelievethatcongress

partyisthesymbolofthishopeandaspartyhasthepotentialtoembodyhere.Iliketoendagainby

sayingthatformethecongresspartyisnowmylife.ThepeopleofIndiamylifeandIwillfightforthe

peopleofIndiaandforthisparty.IwillfightwitheverythingIhaveandIinviteallofyoutostandupand

takeonthisfight.

Thankyou