Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a rally in Punjab’s Moga on Thursday to begin his party’s campaign for the Lok Sabha election due in April-May.

Though a political rally, Rahul will hand over debt waiver certificates to landless farmers and labourers. He will address critical issues like unemployment, agrarian crisis and the achievements of Congress governments.

Later in the day, the Congress president will address another rally in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.

Follow LIVE updates here:

4.25 pm IST Congress thanks Himachal’s people for fighting for us, facing lathis: Rahul On one side there is anger and hatred, on the other side there is Congress. You will be the winner. Congress will take all the four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal. Congress thanks you for fighting for our ideology and facing lathis, says Rahul Gandhi.





4.23 pm IST Farmers pay insurance, but govt gave this money to the businessmen: Rahul Farmers pay insurance, but govt gave this money to the businessmen. Anil Ambani got all of J&K’s insurance. Congress will give minimum income guarantee to all poor.





4.20 pm IST Only poor stood in line at banks during demonetisation, says Rahul Only poor stood in line at banks, not rich people, during demonetisation. Money went to banks and from banks, it went to these rich people’s pockets. Unemployment is highest in 40 years. Govt imposed GST at midnight. Ask any small trader if GST helped them. GST helped the rich businessmen. We will change GST structure.





4.17 pm IST PM Modi promised special package to Himachal: Rahul PM Modi promised special package to Himachal. Congress has waived off farmers’ loans in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Modi waived off 3.5 lakh crore loans of businessmen, but why not that of farmers?





4:15pm IST PM Modi changed Rafale contract on his own, says Rahul Gandhi “Rafale was biggest defence contract in the world, PM Modi changed the contract on his own”, says Rahul Gandhi. He adds that PM Modi changed the contract on his own and gave a contract of Rs 30,000 crore to Anil Ambani.





4:10pm IST ‘PM politicised the Pulwama attack even when Cong did not’ Rahul Gandhi says, “We did not politicise the Pulwama attack in the days following the incident. Opposition stood behind govt after Pulwama but its unfortunate that the Prime Minister politicised the issue.”





4:05pm IST We’ll give martyr status to all securitymen who sacrifice their lives for country: Rahul Gandhi I believe that any security personnel who has sacrificed his life for the country should be given the status of a martyr, irrespective of the force he belongs to. We have decided to give the status of martyr to any security person who sacrifices his life for the country after we form government in 2019 elections.: Rahul Gandhi





4:00pm IST The poll bugle has been sounded, says senior Congress leader Anand Sharma Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma addressing the rally....”The poll bugle has been sounded, announcement of dates is just a formality....The problems of the country have increased in the last five years. The atmosphere in the country is such that it is diverting the attention of the people from the real issues...it is necessary for Congress to alert people. We will not tolerate if our right to ask questions and our patriotism is questioned. People of the country will not tolerate if Rahul Gandhi is asked to prove his patriotism.”





3:46pm IST Congress will defeat BJP in all 4 seats: Himachal unit chief Himachal Congress president Kuldeep Rathore says party workers will defeat the BJP in all four parliamentary seats of the state.





3:38pm IST Modi’s visit prior to Rahul Gandhi disappointed people: Cong leader Agnihotri Mukesh Agnihotri, Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition in Himachal Assembly says that the state government is scared of Rahul Gandhi’s visit. “Modi ji visited Himachal before Rahul Gandhi but he disappointed the people of the state, “ says Agnihotri. Enumerates the various ‘failures’ of the present BJP government.





3:25pm IST Rahul Gandhi reaches Kangra in Himachal Congress president arrives in Kangra, Himacahl Pradesh, where he will shortly address a rally. This is his first visit to the state after becoming the party president. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma is accompanying him. The state has four Lok Sabha seats.





1:31pm IST It’s a fight of ideologies, says Rahul Gandhi It’s a fight of ideologies.....on the one hand, there is Guru Nanak Dev ji’s ideology and on the other hand, it is the RSS ideology, of spreading hatred: Rahul Gandhi.





1:28pm IST In 2019, Cong focus is on giving employment to youth: Rahul Gandhi Our government in Punjab is focussing on farmers and small and medium traders, says Rahul Gandhi. Congress will focus on giving employment to youth in 2019. “The moment our government is formed in 2019, we will give guaranteed minimum income’ and the money will be transferred directly to bank accounts.” He adds, we will eradicate poverty from the country.





1:25pm IST GST has resulted only in losses: Rahul Gandhi. On GST, Rahul Gandhi says it was brought without any consultations, it has resulted only in losses...”We will change GST once we are in power in 2019.” He adds, what has PM Modi done in the last five years? “He gave five airports to Adani a few days ago while there was atmosphere of war in the country. “





1:19pm IST Rahul Gandhi dares PM to a TV debate “He should hold debate with me in front of TV cameras for 15 minutes....everything will become clear.”: Rahul Gandhi dares PM Modi.





1:13pm IST Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi on Rafale deal Rahul Gandhi says Narendra Modi changed the Rafale contract, PMO increased the price and put Rs 30,000 cr in Anil Ambani’s pocket. “He should tell the country why he changed the Rafale contract.....India did not get Rafale jets on time because PMO made parallel negotiations.”





1:10pm IST Congress has waived off loans to farmers: Rahul Gandhi Narendra Modi has waived off loans of the country’s biggest industrialists but he didn’t do the same for even one farmer. We have written off loans of farmers in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan: Rahul Gandhi. “I had promised the same in my speeches and we did it,” says Rahul.





1:06pm IST Rahul Gandhi begins his address Congress president Rahul Gandhi begins addressing the rally in Moga. The atmosphere of hatred in the country today, created by BJP, is an attack in a way on Guru Nanak Dev ji’ s teachings.





12:50pm IST No doubt in saying Rahul Gandhi is our next PM: Punjab CM I have no doubt in saying that Rahul Gandhi will be our next prime minister, says Punjab CM Amarinder Singh.





12:45pm IST ‘Let us gift all 13 LS seats of Punjab to Rahul Gandhi’ Asha Kuamri asks Congress party workers to prepare for the Lok Sabha elections and gift all 13 parliamentary seats of the state to Rahul Gandhi.





12:40pm IST Rahul Gandhi is on mission to rid country of corruption: Asha Kumari Congress’ Punjab Affairs Incharge Asha Kumari welcomes Rahul Gandhi to Punjab. Under Rahul Gandhi’s guidance, CM Amarinder Singh is working to bring the state back to number one position in the country, she said. “It’s a big thing that thousands of youth are getting jobs under the jobs fairs scheme. Rahul Gandhi wants every corner of the country to develop, he is on a mission to rid the country of corruption.”





12:32pm IST Punjab Cong chief Sunil Jakhar addresses rally Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunil Jakhar addressing rally. He says PM Modi has deliberately created tension on the borders to get mileage in Lok Sabha polls. Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar addresses rally in Moga as party president Rahul Gandhi and other leaders look on. ( HT Photo )





12:25pm IST Rahul Gandhi arrives at rally venue in Moga Congress president Rahul Gandhi arrived at the venue of his rally in Punjab’s Moga. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Punjab Affairs Incharge Asha Kumari, PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar, Rajya Sabha member Partap Bajwa and all MLAs and MPs are on stage with Rahul Gandhi.





12:25pm IST Punjab CM tweets about Rahul Gandhi’s arrival in Pujnab Welcome to Punjab! Happy to recieve @INCIndia President @RahulGandhi at Sahnewal. The optimism in the air is indescribable as both of us prepare to attend the 4th Phase of the #KarzaRahat Scheme in Moga today! pic.twitter.com/KUndv2X0EE — Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) March 7, 2019





11:55am IST Rahul Gandhi meets Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Congress president Rahul Gandhi reached Punjab and met chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh ahead of his political rally in Moga. Congress president Rahul Gandhi with Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, March 7, 2019. ( HT Photo )



