Rahul looks for bijli, paani with a mashaal

NEW DELHI: In a show of strength, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi led a “mashaal“ (torch) rally at Rajghat on Saturday evening to protest against the AAP government's failure to address power and water woes in the capital.
Armed with lanterns and hand-fans, Congress workers shouted slogans against the Delhi government, saying it had failed to deliver on its promises.The rally comes in the wake of the civic bypoll results, which gave Congress five out of 13 seats.
AAP, on the other hand, launched its top functionaries into the field demanding a debate with Gandhi on power and water issues. Sanjay Singh, Dilip Pandey and Raghav Chaddha could be seen trying to get past the first layer of barricades, but the police detained them before they could reach Gandhi.
Buoyed by the municipal bypoll victory , Gandhi said that his party knew how to provide basic amenities and would come back to power in Delhi. Going all out against AAP, he said, “I still remember the days when Kejriwal climbed electricity poles to give power supply to households. But look at the number of power outages today .“
In reference to the water crisis in Delhi he said, “When citizens are suffering from a severe water shortage, Kejriwal talks about odd-even formula to deal with pollution.“
Gandhi did not spare the Centre either. He attacked the BJP government for their extravagant celebrations at India Gate on completing two years in office. “Farmers in Vidarbha, Marathwada and elsewhere are dying and here the BJP government is celebrating with Bollywood actors at India Gate,“ he said.
Referring to the AAP's symbol, he said the party had forgotten those who wield the broom. “When a group of safai karamcharis met the CM, he told them, `Take a month's salary , I cannot give you anything more'. He can't understand the pain of safai karamcharis,“ Gandhi added.
He took a dig at PM Narendra Modi's penchant for taking selfies. “When you indulge in selfie politics, it is the poor, the farmers, safai karamcharis, the labourers and small shopkeepers who are hurt. The country can't move forward without the uplift of the poor.“ He also told the gathering that he practises Gandhian politics and does not lie to the public. The Congress second-incommand attacked the Delhi government and the Centre for their expenditure on advertisements. “We do not practise PR. We don't give ads,“ he said.
There was a massive deployment of police at Rajghat in view of the Congress rally.Party workers displayed hand fans with slogans written on them, “Kejriwal's free electricity“. One party sup porter had wrapped himself with lights flashing the colours of the Congress party flag. Many former Congress MLAs and councillors were present at the venue.
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken said that the city was becoming another Latur, in reference to the water shortage in the city. “Delhi can only meet 20% of electricity demands on its own,“ he said.