Rahul Gandhi: Congress won't stand corruption

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran’s yatra finale on Shanghumugham beach on Tuesday, crowds hurrahed as leaders called for another UDF term, clapped repeatedly for Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and sat through the meeting till Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi ended his speech, declaring that Congress will not brook corruption.   

The yatra conclusion also witnessed the kickoff of the party rally ahead of the Assembly elections. Mr Gandhi, who lashed out at the BJP and the Left, asked the CPM to clarify their stand on the liquor policy.

Addressing the surge of Congress supporters, Mr. Gandhi said corruption would not be tolerated at any cost. “Congress would not entertain corruption at any cost, even an iota of corruption would be dealt with strongly and action would be taken,” said Mr. Gandhi, in the wake of the solar and bar allegations against the UDF Government.

He urged party men to fight elections unitedly and ensure that UDF Government returned to power. He said the CPM’s ideology was outdated.

“I have a small question for CPM. We, and the people of Kerala, wish to know whether CPM will reopen closed bars or keep them closed”, added Mr Gandhi.

He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he had recently started speaking on Startup villages which Mr Chandy had already implemented.

“Even before Mr Modi uttered Start-Up policy, Kerala had become the first state in the country to implement one,” he said.

Mr Gandhi added: “Chandy took up the agenda of ‘development and care’ and always came to you (the people) and not the other way round.” Congress leader A. K. Antony showered praises on Mr Chandy, saying that although he was a Chief Minister for three terms, he had no hesitation in saying that the Chandy Government’s performance “is the best the State has ever seen”.

Mr Antony stuck to his usual caution against disparate voices within the party in Kerala:  “I urge the entire party machinery, including the top leaders mere hugging and sharing the stage, to remain united. If that is done, there will be continuity in governance”.

Sources said the KPCC leaders were pleasantly surprised by the huge turnout of supporters, equalling in size the crowd swell at the meeting addressed by Mr Modi during his last address at Shanghumugham beach.