Rahul plays Sonia card, makes an emotional pitch

‘My mother refused to leave Parliament when the food bill was passed. She was ill but she was adamant that she wanted to vote in Parliament. She was unable to breathe when she landed in the hospital and she had tears in her eyes,’ said Rahul Gandhi, as other state party leaders including Digvijaya Singh, Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia, were present on the dais with him.

Addressing a well-attended rally at Shahdol in MP, Gandhi recalled the day his mother fell ill in Parliament and was in tears when she could not vote when the bill was being passed. ‘I will not go until the bill is passed (despite being taken ill in Parliament). I have fought this battle for years. I will not go without pushing the button (to cast the vote),’ is what Sonia told him according to Rahul.

He recalled that being the son he felt very angry that his mother was not going to a doctor despite being sick and was instead insisting on staying in the House. He said when she finally agreed to leave Parliament and visit a doctor ahead of the voting, she was in tears. ‘When I asked her what is this, she said Rahul I had fought for this bill. I wanted to push the button but could not do so,’ he said. Slamming the BJP, Rahul said, ‘While they talk about development and shining India on the one hand, they ask from where will the money come when we talk about food and land acquisition measures.’