What will the poor eat? Priyanka slams Modi govt on rising inflation

The Congress leader's comments come a day after data showed that retail inflation rose to about five-and-half year high of 7.35 per cent in December 2019, surpassing the RBI's comfort level.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday hit out at the government over spiralling prices of vegetables and essential commodities which is hitting the poor.

The Congress leader's comments come a day after data showed that retail inflation rose to about five-and-half year high of 7.35 per cent in December 2019, surpassing the RBI's comfort level, mainly due to spiralling prices of vegetables as onions were selling costlier.

Priyanka Gandhi accused the government of picking pockets of the common man and also taking away their livelihood.

"The prices of vegetables and other edible commodities is getting out of reach of the common man.

What will the poor eat when vegetables, oil, pulses and flour turns expensive. The poor are not even getting employment due to the economic recession.

The BJP government has not just picked the pockets of the poor but also kicked on their stomach," she said in a tweet in Hindi.

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Priyanka Gandhi to kick off campaign in UP on Feb 11 with four-day tour

This will be Priyanka's first visit after being appointed as a general secretary.

Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh (UP)-East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and General Secretary for UP-West Jyotiraditya Scindia will visit Lucknow on February 11 along with Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

The tour is expected to last for four days. This will be Priyanka's first visit after being appointed as the general secretary.

As per information, the leaders are expected to carry out a 12-kilometre long road show.

Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal, on Thursday, informed that after the road show the leaders are expected to interact with the party workers at the Congress office in the city.

According to officials, the party office in the state has been revamped and preparations are on in full swing to welcome the newly-appointed general secretaries.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) is preparing to give Priyanka a grand welcome who will be on her first visit to the state and the UPCC headquarters after her appointment as general secretary.

Several rooms of the UPCC headquarters have been refurbished and a newly-built media hall will also be inaugurated by Priyanka.

During a meeting here on Thursday, she had said that she will eradicate divisive politics in the state and will work towards uniting people.

Moreover, Priyanka also assured people that she would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the party benefits in the state.

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Help protect Dilip Kumar's bungalow from land mafia: Saira Banu to PM Modi

She named builder Samir Bhojwani, who has allegedly falsely claimed ownership of two plots in Pali Hill on which Dilip Kumar's bungalow is built.

Veteran actor Saira Banu has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi begging him for help in tackling the "land mafia" and protecting her husband and legendary star Dilip Kumar's "only house".

Tweeting from Kumar's official Twitter account on Tuesday night, she said Modi was her last hope in the case because repeated entreaties to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had been futile.

She named builder Samir Bhojwani, who has allegedly falsely claimed ownership of two plots in Pali Hill on which Dilip Kumar's bungalow is built.

"To the honourable @PMOIndia Shri @narendramodi. Awaiting for appointment. I'm tired of repeated assurances from CM @Dev_Fadnavis "I Am Trying". Sir you are the last hope of protecting Dilip Sahab's only house from land mafia Samir Bhojwani. I beg (sic)."

Modi was in Mumbai on Tuesday for a day and met producers and actors to discuss issues related to the Hindi film industry but Saira Banu could not meet him.

She said she plans to follow up with the PM on the matter.

"I did not meet the prime minister here as he has been busy. But I have learnt that his office has asked people here to look into the matter. I have tweeted about it.

I will meet him in Delhi if needed. I have no idea how I will follow this up. But I will follow it up," the 74-year-old told PTI on Tuesday.

Fadnavis said on Monday that he will speak to Kumar, 96, and his family to allay their fears over the property issue involving Bhojwani.

Kumar's bungalow is located in the upscale Pali Hill area of Bandra.

Earlier this year, Saira Banu had approached police and lodged a complaint against Bhojwani.

In January, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police registered a case of cheating against the builder for allegedly trying to grab the veteran actor's bungalow.

After the offence was registered, a team of EOW sleuths raided Bhojwani's residence in Bandra from where they seized weapons, including knives and daggers, officials said.

Bhojwani was arrested by EOW in April and has since been released from jail.

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Govt should help build houses, will pressure it for relief: Rahul in Kerala

Gandhi also reminded people, as the Congress party is not in power both in Delhi and Kerala, they can't do 'big things'.

Congress leaders are going to pressurise the Government so that Kerala people get their compensation as soon as possible and citizens face minimum discomfort, said party president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday evening while addressing people at a relief camp in North Paravur.

"The Government owes you compensation and Government has to help you build your houses. We are in opposition and it is our job to make them do their duties. Every single Congress leader is going to pressurize the Government so that your compensation is paid as soon as possible and you face minimum discomfort," he said.

Gandhi also reminded people, as the Congress party is not in power both in Delhi and Kerala, they can't do 'big things'. However, he added that the Congress party is raising money to help people rebuild their houses.

Talking of problem being faced by people in camps, the Congress president said, "The immediate problem in all the camps is that people are saying their houses are damaged, there is a lot of mud and dirt in their houses and people have lost their papers.

So I have told all the Congress workers and leaders to help them build their houses, to assist them to clean it and to help with all the papers that have been lost so that people can get the paperwork done."

The Gandhi scion also applauded people for facing this tragedy with unity and strength.

"Every single Keralite should be proud that how the state has reacted to this tragedy. Everyone stood together as one. All religion, all communities, all cast stood together and faced this tragedy. And you are a huge example to the whole country", he said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is on a two-day visit of flood-hit Kerala. He reached the flood-ravaged state on Tuesday morning and will take stock of the situation in the Wayanad district on Wednesday.

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