In Pics: Priyanka campaigns for Sonia in Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi campaigns in Rajasthan

Rae Bareli (UP)/ Alwar (Rajasthan): Campaigning for her mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi in this constituency of Uttar Pradesh, she said Vadra was being attacked by BJP to divert the attention of people from the development issues to “meaningless talk” and that the “truth” about her husband will prevail. “When you watch TV, what do you see? Harsh words, ridiculing of my family. A lot of things are said about my husband. I feel pained. I feel pained, not for myself, not because somebody is ridiculing and the truth is not being told, not because everyday I tell my children that the truth will prevail. I feel pained at the kind of politics that has come to the fore in these elections,” she told a gathering. “I am pained that while this election should have been contested on development, needs of the people, employment for youth....instead, an attempt is being made to mislead you towards meaningless talk,” she said.Later, she told reporters, “There has been a political attack on my family. They have used my husband for political attack. It has been going on for two years and I feel very strongly about it.”“There has been a political attack on my family. They have used my husband for political attack. It has gone for two years and I feel very strongly about it,” she told reporters. Invoking Indira Gandhi, Priyanka said she had learnt from her grand mother how to fight back as “truth is like a shield”.Deploring the politics of divisiveness, Priyanka said India was known for its tolerance since it is the land of Buddha and Mahatama Gandhi.The country has accepted her mother Sonia, who was not born here, but now attempts are being made to inject “poison”, she said.“Do you want a country of the Buddha, of Mahatama Gandhi where Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians live together or a country where you fight one another and one community is taken forward while another is left behind and division is created in terms of caste and religion,” she asked those present at the public meeting, apparently attacking BJP and its leader Narendra Modi.She said she was confident that people of the constituency would vote for Sonia as she had always fought for them, which they are “aware of”.Priyanka said she was sure that people would do so not just because they were connected with her family but because they knew of her work.“My mother has always been with you through your struggles and you too have been with her through her struggles,” she told the gathering.“The affection we get from you is sufficient. I believe that you (people) will support Soniaji, but I want that you vote for the country,” she said. Priyanka said that Sonia has ensured development of Rae Bareli and this would continue in the same manner.On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi held a roadshow for his aide Jitender Singh who is contesting from Alwar Lok Sabha Constituency.Amid beating of drums, showering of flower petals, bursting of crackers and shouting of slogans, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday held a road show Singh, a union minister in the Manmohan Singh government, is facing a tough battle this time against the BJP's Mahant Chandnath.Congress state president Sachin Pilot accompanied Rahul and Singh on the three km-long roadshow that passed through major areas of the city.Singh, who belongs to the erstwhile Alwar royal family, is seeking a second term as MP from this constituency. In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls Singh had defeated Kiran Yadav of the BJP.The road show which was expected to be completed in 45 minutes took almost double that time as Gandhi was greeted by a crowd of thousands on both sides of the road."Alwar has not seen this kind of show for years now. Enthusiastic crowd of thousands had gathered along the road since early morning where Rahul Gandhi was supposed to travel. As soon as they saw Rahul they shouted slogans, showered flowers on him and the SPG had a difficult time controlling the people who wanted to shake hands with him," said R.K. Yadav, a Congress supporter.However, the BJP termed it a flop show and said that the Congress had to finish the road show early as there was a very small gathering. "There was a crowd of only 3,000-4,000 during Rahul's road show...it was a complete flop show," a local BJP functionary said.