Cong to play on 'front foot' in UP, aim is to form govt in state: Rahul

Asserting that Congress will "play on front foot" in Uttar Pradesh, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Monday said he and his party will not sit idle till it forms a government in the state and that is the mandate given to Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia.

During a roadshow that marked his sister Priyanka's first public event after being appointed as national general secretary with charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, the Congress president said he has asked her and Scindia, who has been made general secretary for western UP, their mandate is to bring a government in the state that will ensure justice for all.

"Their aim is definitely the Lok Sabha elections, but also to bring a Cognress government here," he said.

Asking crowd to repeat his "chowkidar chor hai" (guard is the thief) barb against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the Congress party's corruption allegation in the Rafale fighter jet deal, Gandhi alleged that the prime minister has "stolen" money from Uttar Pradesh and other states to benefit industrialist Anil Ambani.

The government and Ambani's Reliance Group have denied the allegations levelled against them by Congress and other opposition parties.

On Uttar Pradesh, where his party is struggling to regain lost grounds, the Congress chief said, "UP is the centre (and) heart of country. I have made Priyanka and Scindiaji general secretaries and told them that they have to fight injustice that is rampant in the state for years. They have to fight against it and bring a government that gives justice."