Congress candidate from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday said that she had embarked on a "new journey and you are my guides."
Priyanka Gandhi made this statement while giving her debut speech as a candidate, minutes before she filed her papers as the Congress nominee from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat.
I don't have an answer to it. This is a new journey for me and you are my guides. For me it's my responsibility too. You are the symbol of trust between my family and you. I have been a mother of two children before entering politics. The one thing I want my children to know is the difficulties I faced. I was there with them whenever they needed me.".
"You are also my family and I want you to know the same. I am there to fight for you and I will fight your battles and will not let you down. I thank you from the core of my heart for accepting me as the UDF candidate," said Priyanka Gandhi in her speech which was greeted by a roar.
A sea of humanity had gathered for her; from early morning, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, former Congress Presidents, were present at the venue of the public meeting.
Priyanka Gandhi spoke eloquently as ever, tracing the long political journey of her father.
"I have campaigned for the first time when I was 17 years old, for my father in 1989 and since then I have done it for my mother and brother," she said.
When Sonia Gandhi arrived on the dais, a commotion broke out. For some time, things did not settle down as this was the first visit of Sonia Gandhi to the state after a decade.
After a brief break, Priyanka Gandhi said, "It's the first time she is campaigning for me. It's very different. I am deeply grateful to the Congress President for making me the UDF candidate. It's my honor to represent you if you give me the chance.".
"A few months ago I visited Mundakkai and Churalmala with my brother and saw the devastation with my eyes. The incident of children who lost their entire family, mothers who lost their children, met people whose entire belongings were washed away in the landslide. And I was struck by one thing- each and every person was trying to help another person," said Priyanka Gandhi.
They supported each other without grief and commitment and empathy. Your spirit of bravery has touched me deeply. It is a great privilege and honour to be part of your community, to be part of your family," said Priyanka Gandhi.
We live in strange times. We live in a time where people who are in power spread hatred, dividing people. We live in times where people who are in power want to continue their rule at any cost- even by criminal means.
This is not what our nation was built on and the values of the Independence movement led by Gandhi ji are not what is happening now. We learn Satyamev Jayate and all the religious lessons that surrounded our independence movement. It is the ideology of Buddhism, these are the values that we fight for-for truth, justice, and equality. These are the values that helped my brother walk 8000 kms across this country. He could not have done this without your support," said Priyanka Gandhi.
My sisters and brothers, you stood by my brother when the whole world stood with their backs against him. My whole family will always be grateful for this. I know he is sad to leave you; I have promised him that I will strengthen the bond between him and you.
He explained to me the huge issues you all are facing: the medical college issue, the issue of night traffic ban, man-animal conflict. I want to come to your houses to find out the issues you face," Priyanka Gandhi said.
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