Ahead of Lok Sabha elections 2019, Congress national president Rahul Gandhi was in Andhra Pradesh on Friday to address public meetings in the state.

He started a visit to the famous hill shrine in Tirumala before launching his party’s campaign in Andhra Pradesh for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election this summer with a rally in the temple town.

Rahul Gandhi left for Alipiri, the 1937foothills of Tirumala, in a convoy of cars. From Alipiri, he climbed up the seven hills on foot to reach the temple town to offer prayers to Lord Venkateshwara.

It is Gandhi’s maiden visit to Tirumala as the Congress president.

Follow highlights here:

6:19 pm IST Congress’ commitment that you will get special status: Rahul Gandhi Today I went to the most holy place in the state. It was an honour for me to go there. It was an honour to get the love and affection of the people. It is my commitment, Congress’ commitment and India’s commitment that you will get special status, says Rahul Gandhi.





6:17 pm IST Prime Minister of India should be ashamed of himself after our boys were killed: Rahul Gandhi The Prime Minister of India should be ashamed of himself after our boys were killed. He should be ashamed of not giving the people Andhra Pradesh of what they deserve. You do not have to worry about special status to Andhra Pradesh.





6:14 pm IST PM was making a film on himself when 40 soldiers died: Rahul Gandhi When 40-odd CRPF jawans were martyred, the Prime Minister of India, who calls himself a nationalist, was sitting in a national park and getting a movie made on him. Even three and half hours after the youngsters were killed, the Prime Minister posed in front of cameras, laughed in front of cameras and smiled before the cameras for a film on him. He did not feel the pain of the youngsters who sacrificed their lives. Making a movie and smiling was more important to him. These are the type of people who call themselves nationalists. They do not have the feeling, enough respect towards 40 people who died and thought to help them, says Rahul Gandhi.





6:11pm IST If Congress makes a commitment, that is going to be fulfilled: Rahul Gandhi In every speech in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, I told the people that loans of farmers would be waived within 10 days. I am proud to tell you, it took two days to waive the loans of farmers in these states. Be confident and remember, if Congress makes a commitment, that is going to be fulfilled, says Rahul Gandhi.





6:09 pm IST PM Narendra Modi cannot waive loans of poor farmers: Rahul Gandhi Mr Modi can forgive Rs 3.5 lakh crore loans given to big people, but he cannot waive loans of poor farmers, says Rahul Gandhi.





6:06 pm IST Whatever we said, we implemented it: Rahul Gandhi You have broken promises, you have spoken lies. Whatever we said, we implemented it. If the land is not used within five years, itis taken back and given back to farmers. We waived 70,000 crore loans of farmers, says Congress president Rahul Gandhi.





6:04 pm IST None of the schemes by PM was implemented: Rahul Gandhi The Prime Minister told the people that he will put 15 lakh rupees in every single account. He also told the people of Andhra Pradesh, two crore youth will be given jobs. He said farmers would get the right price for their produce. Make In India, Stand up India, Start-up India. But none of them was implemented. Every statement of Modi was a lie, says Rahul Gandhi.





6:02 pm IST Rahul Gandhi promises special status to Andhra Pradesh if voted to power I want to make it very clear to every single person in AP and every single person in India that when the Congress party comes to power in Delhi, no force in this world can prevent Congress party from giving special category status to Andhra Pradesh, says Rahul Gandhi.





6:00 pm IST If a commitment has been made, it will be fulfilled no matter what: Rahul Gandhi Commitment to Andhra Pradesh was made not only by the Prime Minister of India but also by every single Indian. And when the Prime Minister speaks, India speaks. The Prime Minister has promised special status to Andhra Pradesh. If a commitment has been made, it will be fulfilled no matter what, says Rahul Gandhi.





5:57 pm IST People of Andhra Pradesh were committed special category status: Rahul Gandhi If one doesn’t have commitment in his words, there is no meaning. People of Andhra Pradesh were committed special category status and they were not committed this by just any person. It was not some random person. The Prime Minister is not just a person, he is not just a human being. He is the voice of over a billion people, says Rhaul Gandhi.





5:34 pm IST Rahul Gandhi reaches public rally venue at Taraka Rama Stadium at Sri Venkateshwara University Rahul Gandhi reaches public rally venue at Taraka Rama Stadium at Sri Venkateshwara University. Earlier, he garlanded the statue of Jyoti Rao Phule at the Phule Circle and took part in the procession of the party workers demanding Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh.



