Priyanka invokes Delhi roots, challenges PM to fight elections on false promises

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday invoked her Delhi roots during a roadshow here, and threw an open challenge at Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight the last two phases of the Lok Sabha election on the issue of the "false promises" he made to people.

Priyanka Gandhi, 47, said she was born in Delhi and knows the city like the back of her hand.

Holding her first roadshow in the city in support of Sheila Dikshit, the Congress candidate from Northeast Delhi constituency, she said the people of the city were tired of Modi's "purposeless talk".

"Being a Delhi girl, I challenge you to fight the last two phases on the issues of demonetisation, GST, women security and the false promises you made to the people of the country," she said, as the crowd clapped, cheered and whistled.

Modi had challenged the Congress to fight the last two phases in the name of Rajiv Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi's father and former prime minister who he has described as "bhrashtachari no. 1".

Priyanka Gandhi said Modi has been shifting blame on former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, like a schoolchild trying to escape punishment from teachers.

She also accused Modi of "destroying" institutions and the BJP of "playing politics in the name of religion".

Perched atop a minibus, she said, "I cannot disrespect you (people of Delhi). We are not arrogant like BJP. We know you have made us what we are today."
"He (Modi) failed to protect soldiers, youths and women but who will hold him accountable and who will seek answers from him," she asked the gathering which replied, "We will."