Rahul Gandhi receives warm welcome in Bharuch city. (Source: Express photo) Rahul Gandhi receives warm welcome in Bharuch city. (Source: Express photo)

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is on a three-day visit to Gujarat, his first after the Election Commission announced the dates for the upcoming assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi began the third leg of his ‘Navsarjan Yatra’ from Jambusar, where he addressed a public meeting.

During his last visit, Rahul Gandhi attacked the Narendra Modi-led government’s policies and described its new tax regime as “Gabbar Singh Tax”.

Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat LIVE UPDATES:

5.00 pm: Congress leader Alpesh Thakor is now speaking at a public rally in Valia. He accused the BJP of favouring industrialists over youth.

“The youth know how to overthrow those in power…Alcohol is freely available in Gujarat, destroying unemployed youth,” he said.

4.30 pm: Reacting to Arun Jaitley’s remark that “ease of doing corruption” has been replaced with “ease of doing business”, Rahul Gandhi said the union minister is sticking to a certificate issued by a foreign institution. “India doesn’t need this, it needs a certificate from the people of India.

“You are talking about corruption, have you heard about Jay Shah’s name? He hasn’t spoken a word about him. I am very happy that Congress got the opportunity to serve the people of Gujarat.”

4.00 pm: Well, well, well. Rahul Gandhi allowed a waiting fan to climb on top of the vehicle he is travelling in to take a selfie.

RG invites a college student atop the matador to take a selfie, accepts flowers @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/1DJWk9E1Px — Aditi Raja (@aditijf) November 1, 2017

3.30 pm: Tribals in Bharuch welcomed Rahul Gandhi with a traditional ‘Mandva dance’. People were heard chanting “Congress Aave Che (Congress is coming)”. Meanwhile, the Congress vice-president ditched his ride and moved to an open roof matador. The police appear to be having a hard time keeping supporters away from Rahul Gandhi’s convoy, forcing SPG officers to step in.

Rahul Gandhi’s convoy stops in Bharuch for a tribal welcome @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/xhjjH8HOjU — Aditi Raja (@aditijf) November 1, 2017

3.15 pm:

As crowd surrounds Rahul’s bus, he moves into an open roof matador to make way through crowd in Bharuch @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/BOP22fzDi4 — Aditi Raja (@aditijf) November 1, 2017

3.00 pm:

Rahul Gandhi reaches Kantharia town near Bharuch city; crowd throng streets to welcome Congress V-P @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/K6eSvmqVlm — Aditi Raja (@aditijf) November 1, 2017

2.50 pm: That is a wrap from Dayadra, Rahul Gandhi now heads to Bharuch city, onward to Valia in Ankleshwar for a public meeting.

2.40 pm: The Congress vice-president also attacked BJP national president Amit Shah and his son Jay Shah. “Let’s talk about Shah-zada. The one business that emerged from the tornado of losses. Jay Shah’s company is the example of Modiji’s ‘Na khaunga, na khaane dunga‘.”

2.37 pm: On GST, Rahul Gandhi said: “”None of Modiji’s industrialists will pay 28 per cent GST on goods, common people will. You will.”

2.35 pm: Claiming that PM Modi reneged on his promises made to farmers, Rahul Gandhi added: “Modiji’s PR cannot erase the truth that he broke the trust farmers had placed in him; no one got employment. You, farmers, voted for BJP due to this unwritten promise of employment made by Modiji. In 2007, he promised Rs 15000 Cr to tribals under Vanbandhu Kalyan; in 2012, Rs 40000 Cr. Where is this Rs 55000 Cr. Modiji promised Rs11000cr to fishermen, didn’t give them a single rupee”

2.30 pm: Stepping his attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi claimed: “In eight vibrant Gujarat summits, Modiji told people that industries coming to the state will generate employment. Modiji showed an investment of Rs 84 lakh crore through vibrant Gujarat; in reality, only 2 per cent investment has come. I am speaking on the basis of statistics from govt of Gujarat; Modiji broke his promise to people of Gujarat.”

2.15 pm: Congress’ Gujarat in-charge, Ashok Gehlot, speaking in Dayadra, said: “BJP asks what Congress did for 60 years. Did they even sacrifice one finger for India’s freedom? Why did the BJP not honour Sardar Patel, M Gandhi earlier? If they had, Gandhi wouldn’t have been killed.”

2.00 pm: In Dayadra, Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki said: “We told the state government to waive farmer loans; Nitin Patel (Deputy prime minister) said farmers are rich.”

1.45 pm: Rahul Gandhi has arrived in Dayadra. Villagers tell him that their lands were acquired without their consent in 2007. “Government paid Rs 7 lakh per hectare for land acquisition in 2007; didn’t give promised jobs,” Dayadra villagers tell Rahul Gandhi.

Dayadra village of Bharuch has ST population of 30.32 per cent, while SC constitutes 1.08 per cent of total population.

1.34 pm: Gandhi is interacting with villagers of Samni in Bharuch district en route Dayadra.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi during the yatra in Samni village in Gujarat on Wednesday (Express Photo) Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi during the yatra in Samni village in Gujarat on Wednesday (Express Photo)

1.24 pm: Rahul Gandhi has arrived has arrived in Aamod in Bharuch. According to our reporter on ground, he received a rousing welcome by the people. The Congress vice-president will soon meet farmers affected by land acquisition in Dayadra.

1.00 pm: Meanwhile, six major Patidar social outfits have openly come out against youth leader Hardik Patel on the quota issue. They accused Hardik Patel of settling for the EBC quota promise made by the Congress instead of seeking OBC status.

“Patidar Anamat Andolan has now become Hardik’s Personal/Private Anamat Andolan. We don’t support it,” they said.

They plan to start a ‘Khatla Parishad’ against Hardik Patel across Gujarat.

12.40 pm: Rahul Gandhi ends his speech. He is now on his way to Aamod.

12.35 pm: Rahul Gandhi said the next government in Gujarat will be a government of farmers, poor, traders, and not of “Modi’s industrialists”.

“BJP is going to get a current (shock) in the upcoming polls in Gujarat; people have understood the truth. The next govt of Gujarat will be of farmers, poor, traders, not of Modiji’s industrialists,” he said.

12.30 pm: A day after India jumped 30 places in the World Bank’s global list on “ease of doing business”, Rahul Gandhi said Union Minister Arun Jaitley put the same question to a small shop owner.

“Jaitley sits in his office and believes a foreign company talking of “ease of business”. Did Jaitley ji go to a small shop owner and ask what is the “ease of doing business. For this govt, what is spoken abroad is truth, but reality of India is false,” he said.

12.15 pm: On PM Modi’s promise to unearth black money in Swiss bank accounts, Rahul Gandhi said: “Modiji doesn’t understand that all money is not black money; black money is that which is buried underground. It’s been 3 yrs since Modi govt; how many Swiss bank account holders are behind bars? Modi spoke of Swiss bank accounts and black money, what did he do to bring it back? Look at Vijay Mallya, he’s enjoying himself in London. What did Modiji do?”

12.10 pm: Mocking the Gujarat development model, Rahul Gandhi said: “If you go to a hospital in Gujarat model, you will get thrown without lakhs of rupees in your pockets…Gujarat model hai bhaiya , Gujarat model. If you don’t have money, then work doesn’t get done here”

He alleged that “Modi’s industrialists” are running all the hospitals and educational institutions in Gujarat and small businesses are suffering.

12.05 pm: Rahul Gandhi began his address. Taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress vice-president accused him of extending a huge loan for the Tata Nano project at a low-interest rate. He said all the loans of farmers in Gujarat can be waived off with the same amount.

“Farmers are suffering in Gujarat, they want their loans waived…

“For the Tata Nano he gave a bank loan at a low-interest rate, he gave your land too..

“The amount of loan he extended to Tata Nano project, it would have erased all your loans. Have you seen a Nano car on a road? He gave your land, water to them…this is the development model of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

12.01 pm: Patel says, “BJP is talking about terrorism; Congress leaders have suffered because of terrorism.” In regard with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s recent remark linking an ISIS case with Ahmed Patel, the Congress leader said, “I conducted a research. He worked in hospitals instituted by BJP leaders. Care Hospital where he (the ISIS suspect) worked at was inaugurated by the Prime Minister.”

11.58 am: Speaking at the rally, Ahmed Patel says the CM of Gujarat in 2012 — PM Narendra Modi — promised many things to the people of Jambusar, but did not deliver. He adds that the BJP’s work is fraudulent.

11.56 am: Pre-election workout? Rahul Gandhi shows how Aikido is done: Floor opponent in four moves. See pictures

11.44 am: GPCC president Bharatsinh Solanki speaks of Gandhi’s Bharuch connection through grandfather Feroze Gandhi.

Religious priests from Bharuch ‘blessing’ RG on stage at Jambusar public address @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/UcbAL1y9Ih — Aditi Raja (@aditijf) November 1, 2017

11.30 am: Gandhi has arrived in Jambusar, flanked by GPCC leaders and Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel. Alpesh Thakor, who recently joined the party, is with the Congress vice-president at his public address.

A young boy wears a Rahul Gandhi mask at the venue of the Congress vice-president’s rally (Express Photo/Bhupendra Rana) A young boy wears a Rahul Gandhi mask at the venue of the Congress vice-president’s rally (Express Photo/Bhupendra Rana)

10.45 am:

Part of the route to be taken by Rahul Gandhi on his Navsarjan Yatra today will pass through the Dandi Path @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/yPApvVajlu — Aditi Raja (@aditijf) November 1, 2017

10.30 am: Rahul Gandhi’s first stop will be Jambusar. He will then proceed to Aamod, Dayadra, Vagra, Ankleshwar, Valia in Bharuch District. In Surat district, he will tour the tribal belt of Mangrol, Mandvi and Mahuva. He will end the day with a public meeting in Vyara in Tapi.

10.15 am: On Day 1 of his three-day yatra, Rahul Gandhi will cover Bharuch, Surat and Tapi Districts. He arrived in Vadodara today morning, before heading to Jambusar. Below is his itinerary for the day:

Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat. Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat.

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