 For the almost hundred people who have been killed at the Morbi bridge tragedy in Gujarat yesterday So I request all of you to stand up and observe two minutes silence, please Thank you. I have already explained to you how we are going to conduct this Press interaction of about 40 minutes at the end of which Raul Gandhi ji will sit there and take a group photograph with all of you. I Will be giving priority to the telugu media Then we will take questions from the Hindi media and then a few questions from the English media You are free to ask your questions in telugu. Sorry. I forgot telugu media first Urdu media second Hindi media third and English media fourth because of the significance of the Urdu media in this region You are free to ask your questions in telugu. It will be translated and she Raul Gandhi ji will answer in English I would request you to please keep your questions Very brief and only one person one question, please so that we can accommodate as many questions as possible So let's begin. Yeah, Nassim Reddy garu. Can you stand up and ask your question is easier for Raul ji to see you Modi Prabhupam came to power He destroyed all the political facilities in the country He made the people of that region rich He made the people of one country rich Before 2014, what is the value of these facilities? What is the value of these facilities? What is the value of these facilities? He is Narsim Reddy from Enado His question is that Modi is destroying the entire democratic setup in 8 years And he is looting it for his two friends How was Congress before 2014? What is the value of these facilities? Modi has been demolishing the constitutional structure since 8 years What is the value of these facilities? What is your opinion on that? He has been looting and distributing the land to his two friends for 8 years What is the value of these facilities? What is the value of these facilities? What is the value of these facilities? Before 2014, how was Congress before 2014? How will you take these facilities? First of all, I would like to welcome all of you here Thank you very much for coming. Thank you for giving me your time. With regards to the question, a lot of damage has been done to the institutional framework of our country. There has been a systematic attack on different institutions. You and the press understand very well how the press is controlled, pressurized, threatened. Many, many friends of, you know, many journalists have walked with me and they've been telling me, while they've been walking in Telangana, exactly what is done. Not just, by the way, at the national level but also at the local level here. And the media is not the only institution that is under attack. The judiciary is under attack. Bureaucracy is under attack. And this is extremely damaging to the country. So of course, when the Congress party comes back to power, we are going to make sure that these institutions are once again freed from the grasp of the RSS and a certain independence is maintained in these institutions. That is our record and that is something we will do very, very aggressively. With regards to the massive concentration of capital, if you look at what is happening to small and medium businesses in this country, what is happening to the job creation structure of this country, essentially it is being destroyed. And today India is unable to produce jobs. Huge part of the reason why this is happening is because there is massive concentration of power, crony capitalism, which the government is doing. Both governments, again the BJP government at the center and TRS government here in Andhra Pradesh, favoring two or three business people and eliminating other competition. And creating monopoly in industry after industry after industry. And this is, one, it's very bad because such concentration is bad. But two, it's bad because huge amount of potential of Indian companies, small and medium companies, even companies who are not crony capitalists, their potential is being wiped out. So we will definitely ensure that the environment, business environment is fair and money is not concentrated the way it is being concentrated. Oh sorry, I made a slip up, TRS government in Telangana. Yeah, Narsingaru, please take the mic. Hi sir, good afternoon. I am Narsingaru, Eben Andhra Jyothi. After you started your journey in Telangana, the big thing is that you are doing the commercial part of the government. One is not for people, but for fitness. Two are for Rahul Gandhi, Chayyalsindi, Congress, Nehdala Jodhoyathra, Bharat Jodhoyathra, Gujarat, why not do the commercial part? After you have reached the commercial part, you will be able to do the commercial part of the government. You will be able to do the commercial part of the government. If fitness is to be developed, then gym is much more effective medium than walking across the country, please. So the idea of the Bharat Jodhoyathra, as I have stated again and again, is to fight the hatred, the anger that the BJP is spreading across the country. The reason we are fighting it is because this hatred and this anger that is being spread is weakening the country. We are walking 3,500 kilometers across the country and we are inviting people who believe in the idea of Bharat Jodhoyathra and they are joining us by the lax. So this is a very powerful way of demonstrating the feeling that India has inside. India does not believe in this hatred and this violence that the BJP is spreading. Thank you. Please keep the question. He has asked 4 questions. Just take the question on why not Congress Jodo, why Bharat Jodo? He is sounding a lot like a BJP spokesman. You are doing it for fitness. Why are you not going here? Look, the route is from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. We cannot do a Yatra that goes to every state in the country. So we have taken a decision that we are going to take a route and we are covering as many states as we possibly can. And once again the idea of the Yatra is to send a message to the people of India that we are not going to stand for the hatred and the violence that the BJP is spreading. We are not going to accept the type of economic model that the BJP is running. We are not going to accept the capture of the institutional framework that the BJP is doing. In case you have not seen, there are many, many Congress people coming. There are many, many non-Congress people coming. And let me inform you, there are also workers of other parties coming. Okay, please keep your questions short. No four questions again. Only one question. Yeah, Kalyan, one question please. And short. Good afternoon sir. As far as the OBC reservation, OBC census is concerned, it is the Congress party who came out with the idea, did the census. Myself, I am very, very clear. I have absolutely no question in my mind. The OBC census needs to be made public. People need to understand the makeup of India's population. Okay, incidentally, it was the Congress government that carried out the social economic census in 2011. Ashok from TV9. Good afternoon sir. Telangana is a given Congress party, but why success in Telangana was not achieved. And you, in Telangana Congress, internal politics is more. Many times you cause it, but every time there are problems. So, are you taking precautions from that? Look, our party is a democratic party. Our party does not run dictatorship. You saw, a few days ago, we were elected in the Congress party. And democratically, we elected our new president. So, this is our DNA. That we do not run dictatorship. So, a little discussion is natural in our party. But our leaders will fight together, fight together, and the Congress party will win. Have no doubt about that. Chari from NTV? Also, I would like to ask a question. Of course, the Congress party has demonstrated that it is a democratic party by electing our president. And we have had an election across the country. I'm wondering when other political parties are going to do this. I'm wondering when the RSS and BJP are going to have an election. When the TRS is going to have an election. This is just a question I have in my mind. And it's interesting to me that the press always asks about the Congress party and about elections and democracy in the Congress party. Who ever dares to ask about democracy in the TRS, or democracy in the RSS, or democracy in the BJP? Chari? Sir, I'm Chari sir from NTV. You have been saying that there is a small amount of TRS and BJP in 5 days. In the press, the TRS and BJP are going to have an election. Recently, some people have been talking about the BJP and BJP. Some have done a small amount of TRS and MLA. They have also believed in the cases related to it. The people of Congress are fighting against the Congress. It's good that there is a debate, but there is not much of a reason for the election. We will answer only one question, please. He is only going to translate one. No, the fact that both these parties are spending hundreds of crores of rupees. The question needs to be asked, where is this money coming from? Obviously, this money is coming from corruption and this money is being distributed blatantly without any regard for any rule or anything like that. So, it shows the similarity of the two structures. It shows that both these parties steal public money and then use this public money to influence elections. Okay, Srinivas sir from TV5. I'm going to be now extremely fast forward. Please keep your questions short. Namaste sir, my name is Srinivas TV5. Congress has been established in a country. That's why the people of the country are watching TRS. That's why they are saying that the National Party is the name of KCR BRS. You have said that Congress is going to run alone. There is absolutely no question of the Congress having any relationship with the TRS. The Congress Party has made this very clear. This confusion is created by the TRS themselves. I'll repeat it clearly. There's absolutely no question of any relationship between the TRS and the Congress. Number two, any leader has the right to imagine his party in whatever way he wants. If the Chief Minister of Tenangalan believes that he is running a national party, that's perfectly okay, there's no problem, he can believe it. If he believes that he's running a global party, that's also acceptable, that's also fine. So these are all things that he can do and he can imagine. He's welcome to think that no I am running an international party, one that is also fighting elections in the United States and fighting in China and other countries. Good, no problem, we are perfectly happy to accept it. Thank you. The last point about the opposition, the fight in India today is between two ideologies. One ideology that is seeking to divide the nation, spread violence in the nation and the other ideology that is bringing the nation together. And the line is very, very clear. I feel and the Congress party feels that it is very important that the opposition works together harmoniously to defeat the ideology of the RSS in the BJP. I am Mohammad Riyaz Ahmed, I am from Urdu, Delhi. Sir, my question is that I will talk about the journey of India. Through the journey of India, do you think that you are successful in breaking the communal agenda and hatred? And secondly, one important thing is that what you have done so far, what similarities do you see in the issues of the common people? We would like to know that. The journey of India is one ideology and a symbol. And the ideology of the BJP is a way of keeping another ideology with clarity. There is a long way to fight the BJP. The institutional capture they have done, fighting it is not a matter of two minutes. But the journey of India is a very good step. Mr. Bashiruddin, tell me. My question is that the decision of the journey of India is yours or the party's. Secondly, what will the party benefit from this? Will the Congress return again? Look, whose idea was it? The general discussion was going on. Many years ago, I wanted to travel. But that time, Covid came, then it became difficult to travel. Then we postponed it in a way. And then in my mind, I personally wanted to travel to India. And in my mind, and then two or three people suggested this to the Congress party. So now it came to my mind or it came to their mind, I don't know. Did you come to India now? Actually, when I thought about it for the first time, I was 25-26 years old. At that time, I was not even in politics. But at that time, I couldn't do it. So I thought that there was this desire inside. And I find it very nice. For me, it is a way to fight with BJP, RSS, politics. And it will benefit the Congress party. But for me, it is a personal journey. So I am learning a lot. I am understanding a lot about India. You talked about Telangana. In Telangana, the Congress party will win. We will fight together. And our foundational idea will fight to defend it. I will now take questions from the Hindi media. Janinder, please ask in the message. Mr. Rahul, you say that there won't be any problem with TRS. But something will be right for you. Like Nitish Kumar, who you are running in Bihar. He welcomes when KCR goes to Patna. And there are talks of making a national front. He is the Chief Minister, who you are part of. So you say that TRS is spreading confusion. Is it not spreading confusion from these things? I will conclude with a question. In the future, in 2024, you say that there won't be any problem with TRS in Telangana. Will there be any problem with Congress in 2024? First of all, I don't say that. The leadership of Telangana, combined leadership, is what they say. What they say, they accept the Congress party. And they take action on that basis. If Mr. Nitish wants to talk to TRS, that is his concern. That is his desire. And he is welcome to do it. But for us, in Telangana, we are very clear. We cannot stand with the corruption, the approach and the attitude of the TRS. The TRS is looting the people of Telangana. It is snatching land away from Dalits, from Tribals. It is destroying the education system. It is privatizing the education system. We are diametrically opposed to everything they are doing. Yes, Rajat. Mr. Rajat, please. Mr. Rajat. Mr. Rajat. As we found out yesterday, we will be travelling to Charminar tomorrow. Mr. Waisi represents the Lok Sabha. He is also with you in Lok Sabha. Some people say that he is the BJP's B team. They also oppose you. They oppose the BJP. They also hold elections in Gujarat. Ask a question. How do you see the political group? When Rajiv Gandhi had travelled to Sadhbhavna, he had started from Charminar. That is the logic that we are following. Yes, Abdul. Sir, in yesterday's Morbi Cable Bridge incident, who is responsible for the deaths of 134 people in Gujarat? I don't want to politicize this incident. People have died here. It is disrespectful for them to politicize this incident. So I am not going to do it. Yes, Mr. Vikrant. I have answered you clearly. Mr. Vikrant. I am not going to politicize it. Yes, Mr. Vikrant. Mr. Rahul, your journey is going on. It is a matter of discussion. But the opposition, whether it is an ordinary party or an Indian party, they are saying that there is no congress in Gujarat for 27 years. Give us a chance. You are saying that Rahul Gandhi is there because they don't think that we can win. So what is your political situation regarding the Gujarat elections? What is your party situation? In the Gujarat elections, Congress Party is fighting very effectively. And the Gujarat elections will be won by the Congress Party in Gujarat. It is a very heavy anti-incumbency. And the common man party is in the air. There is nothing on the ground. The media means that they fund from there. They advertise from Delhi. So the air is made. But Congress Party is a solid party in Gujarat. Congress Party is going to win the election there. Yes, no, no. Supplementary, no, please. Yes, Arun. What are your thoughts on the elections? You can talk about Nadak or Gujarat. You have done a very effective campaign in both the places. Just one question. Arun, just one question, please. Just one question. When I went to Gujarat last time, you said, this time that preparation was last time. I can't see it. You said it that time. Something is not happening this time. And then after the elections, what happened? So I am reminding you of your questions. Look, there is a trip to India. In this, we are trying to give a message. And we do not want to get distracted by this message. But about the elections of Gujarat and Himachal, our discussion will go on. Kharge Ji is the president of the party. He will decide how I am to be utilised. This is the question of the Hindi media. I will answer the question in English. Finally, there are three questions. Ravi Kanth. Good afternoon, sir. I am Ravi Kanth, ready from the Hindu newspaper. So irrespective of what the party says, people perceive this Yatra as a political Yatra. In a sense. So in that sense, after finishing the Yatra, at the end of the Yatra, where do you see yourself as a politician in the country? But I just want to ask you. So, I mean, obviously, it is a political action. This is not a sports Yatra. Or, you know, this is, of course, it is a political action. And it is a political action against the way the BJP and the RSS are dividing the country and damaging the country, spreading hatred, spreading violence. This is a completely political action. Okay? And the aim of the action is to spread the message across India that the hatred and the violence that the BJP is spreading are weakening the country. They are anti-national activities and it is not Indian culture. Indian culture is harmonious, peaceful, affectionate. That is the idea behind the Yatra and it is a 100% political message. Ravi Khan, no supplementary, please. No supplementary, please. Ravi Khan, please. I'll answer the final point. My final point is... How do I see myself? We can't break rules. We have to run according to rules. The Bharat Jodo Yatra is running according to rules. Surely a press conference can run according to rules. Roshan Ali. Roshan Ali. Sir. Right now, I'm involved in this Yatra and right now my focus is very clear. My job right now is to walk from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and to listen to every single person who comes to me and wants to be heard and to make every single person who comes to me, regardless of religion, regardless of community, regardless of how rich or poor he is, comfortable when they're walking in that Yatra. That is the only thing I'm seeing right now. Once we arrive in Srinagar, which we will, then you're welcome to come to a press conference and ask me the question how do I see myself after the Yatra? Sorry, Ravi Khan. I can only regulate questions. I can't regulate answers. Roshan Ali. Sir, I'm Roshan Ali from the Times of India. Sir, do you think that this huge response you're getting during the Yatra will translate into words? My job, as I have said is to carry out this Yatra from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, Kashmir. These questions I know you don't ask them maliciously but these questions are designed to distract from the core idea of the Yatra. They're designed to take the attention of people somewhere else, right? The lakhs of people who are coming in the Yatra, they are demonstrating what being Indian means. They're demonstrating that being Indian means respecting other Indian people. Being Indian means being affectionate, being loving to other Indian people. And this is an extremely powerful thing. It's a very humbling thing for me to see how wise the Indian people are. I cannot even explain to you how humbling it is for me. Asim. Shout out, shout out. This is Asim Kamal for PTI. At the Udaipur Chintan Shiver you had said that the Congress' connection with the people has been broken. Now you walked 1400 kilometers. How far have you succeeded in re-establishing that connect and is your focus more on re-establishing that connect going forward than on short-term electoral gains? I said the connect of the Congress' party with the people has weakened. The connect of the Congress' party with the people has not broken in any way. But it had weakened. This is a good first step in connecting with the people. It is not a magic wand but it's a good step. The Congress' party is an idea. It stands for a certain vision of India. It stands for a certain perspective of where the country should go. If the Congress' party defends that perspective and if it fights for that perspective it will naturally connect with the people of India. So this is a good first step. But I think there is a lot of work that has to be done. Thank you. The last question she represents a digital news platform which is a new emerging technology. So I want to give her that chance. Yes. Hello, I am Kaniza Garari. I am from NewsMeeter website. I want to know what, as you explained it has been a humbling experience for you meeting people from different genres. I want you to tell us whatever damage the BJP has done how are you all going to reverse it in the long run? So what is it that is going to be done after the reversal after the Bharat Jodo Yatra also? One way of looking at the BJP is that it is a political organization. That is a rather superficial way of looking at the BJP. BJP is actually an emotion. It is an emotion which is very strong in the leadership of the RSS and in the leadership of the BJP and that emotion at a superficial level is hatred. They preach the idea of hatred but if you scratch a little bit and I have read people like Savarkar Gowalkar if you scratch a little bit it is actually not hatred it is actually fear. They are actually scared and from that fear comes hatred. Congress party is also an emotion as taught to us by Gandhiji it is the opposite of fear. What is the opposite of fear is the confrontation of your own fear. The moment the Congress party starts to spread this idea of confront your fear don't be a coward because hatred is cowardice. Naturally the BJP will start to collapse. Of course there is an element of institutional capture which they have done which the united opposition will reverse and I also feel and it's important that people who have played a role in this institutional capture they realize that you cannot get away with this scot-free that there is a cost involved in capturing the institutions of this country and trying to destroy the institutions of this country and you will pay that price. Thank you Rahul Ji one second please one second we have covered we have covered we have covered we have covered we have covered we have covered we have covered we have covered 16 questions in 40 minutes we have covered 16 16 people have asked questions Telugu, Urdu, English, Hindi everyone cannot get a chance you keep asking there will be more press conference keep going and ask in Maharashtra ask in Madhya Pradesh sorry I just want to announce that tomorrow at 12.45 next press conference we will give you now I am making a commitment he is making a commitment it will be there tomorrow at 1.45 next press conference we will reach Hyderabad and tomorrow evening we will go with Rahul Ji to Bharat Jodo Yatra we will go for an hour we will go for two hours I do not have that information but tomorrow evening we will go with Rahul Ji to Bharat Jodo Yatra Rahul Ji will take a photo with you Thank you very much Thank you