Amethi: Campaigning for her brother Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi asked the electorate in Amethi not to vote for "outsiders", an apparent reference his rivals Smriti Irani of BJP and AAP's Kumar Vishwas.
Priyanka sought to strike an emotional chord with the electorate by invoking her family's ties with the region on Saturday saying Amethi was a "holy land" for her family and described Rahul as a visionary like their father Rajiv Gandhi.
"Many candidates come here and say that there is no electricity or no development here. I want to ask the candidate who contested from Chandni Chowk (Lok Sabha constituency in Delhi), whether she went there again after the polls," she said.
Actor-turned politician Smriti Irani had unsuccessfully contested the 2004 elections from Chandni Chowk and has been fielded against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in these polls.
Priyanka said she was sure that people of Amethi would be able to distinguish between "drama and reality" during the elections.
Aam Aadmi Party's Kumar Vishwas is also in the fray in the prestigious seat.
Seeking to showcase her brother's achievements in the seat, she said Rahul has done so much for the area that she had to bring a long list of works done by him.
"I can remember the development works done in Rae Bareli, but here so much of work has been done that I have to bring a long list with me," Priyanka said.
She said that Rahul was responsible for bringing milk revolution in the region whereas earlier milk was brought to Amethi from outside.
She said Rahul was a "far-sighted" leader like their father Rajiv Gandhi.
"When Rajiv Gandhi started talking about computers and IT revolution, people started criticising him. Now, when Rahul talks about bring changes, the same set of people are attacking him too," Priyanka said.
Addressing a meeting at Lala ka Bagh in the parliamentary constituency of Rahul, Priyanka said whatever Rajiv Gandhi did for the country was benefitting the people even after his death.
"When Rajivji used to talk about telecom revolution, computer then those having narrow vision used to make a mockery of him. When computer was introduced then a lot of criticism was done, but today the revolution is due to his policies. Similarly Rahul has a far sighted thinking and he is also being criticised," she said.
"Like Rajivji started Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Indo Gilf Fertilisers, Indira Gandhi National Aviation Academy, similarly Rahul developed the academy as corporate terminal in Amethi. He got Rajiv Gandhi Petroleum Institute, Rajiv Gandhi Information Technology Institute set up. He worked in the field of of national highways and railway. There will be economic development of the area in the next 5-10 years," she added.
Batting for her brother, she said, "People say that Rahul has done nothing for Amethi, but I have brought a long list to prove them wrong".
She said that Rajiv Gandhi Women Development Project was an example of far sighted thinking of Rahul.
"The project which was started in 2002 is running in 22 districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Amethi, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Fatehpur, Jhansi and Mahoba. So far 12 lakh women of the state, including 1.98 lakh of Amethi, are associated with the scheme," she said.
Earlier, Priyanka expressed displeasure when she could not see the people sitting behind the cameras.
Taking a wireless mike she crossed the barricade and stood on a chair. And, when camerapersons proceeded towards that side Priyanka said, "I am not here to meet you (camerapersons), but to meet the people."
"I have a relationship of heart with Amethi. This is karmbhoomi of my father. Whatever decision you take, I am not going to go from here," she said.
Priyanka also said she will not be campaigning in Varanasi, where party candidate Ajay Rai is pitted against BJP Prime Ministerial nominee Narendra Modi.
"I am not going to Varanasi. I will campaign in Amethi and Rae Bareli only," Priyanka told reporters in reply to queries.
Reports in a section of media suggested that Priyanka could campaign in favour of party candidate against Modi in Varanasi.
Recently, she had trashed reports that she wanted to challenge Narendra Modi for the Lok Sabha seat from Varanasi and was stopped by the party high command.
Priyanka had said it was a "personal" decision not to contest and that her family would "wholeheartedly support" her if she ever wanted to.
"My decision to not contest is personal. I will only change it (if) I feel from within that I should," she had said.
"My brother, mother and husband (Robert Vadra) would wholeheartedly support me if I ever wanted to (contest)," she had said.
Priyanka has maintained that she wanted to campaign only in Amethi, from where her brother is contesting, and in Rae Bareli, from where her mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi is fighting.
Priyanka also refused to comment on yoga guru Ramdev's controversial remarks targeting Rahul Gandhi.
