Rahul’s rallies after Modi visit

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CPI(M) activists during their “rail roko” protest in Chennai on Thursday against the hike in fuel prices. — PTI

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be addressing two rallies in Rajasthan in the second and third week of this month, a day after a meeting of the BJP’s election campaign chief Narendra Modi.
While Mr Modi will be addressing a rally in Jaipur on September 10, Mr Gandhi will address a rally at Salumber in Udaipur district on September 11. The Congress vice-president will address a meeting in Baran on September 17, Congress sources said.
The party has also planned two meetings of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in Bhilwara and Barmer, but the dates have not been finalised yet, they said.
Rajasthan going to the Assembly polls in the next couple of months. The state would witness a keen battle between the ruling Congress and the main Opposition BJP.
Meanwhile, the Congress on Thursday claimed that Mr Modi’s remarks that he would respect the mandate of the people of Gujarat for serving the state till 2017 showed that the chief minister “cannot make a dent in Indian politics”.
Party general secretary Gurudas Kamat said that IPS officer D.G. Vanzara’s letter has brought out the “real character” of Mr Modi. The Gujarat Congress has called a state wide bandh on Friday seeking the resignation of the Modi-led BJP government in the wake of the letter by the suspended IPS officer.
Mr Kamat, who is in charge of party affairs in Gujarat, said that Mr Modi’s remarks showed the realisation in the chief minister that “he cannot create a dent in Indian politics beyond the borders of Gujarat where he has managed to win by fooling the people of the state”.
Mr Kamat’s remarks came close on the heels of Mr Modi’s statement that he does not dream of occupying the top post and would respect the people’s mandate for serving the state till 2017.
Another senior Congress leader, who declined to be identified, remarked in an ominous tone, “Let the BJP declare Modi the prime ministerial candidate.”