Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is persisting with her mission of creating political sagacity in voters by entreating them to cast their ballots on the basis of their lived experience instead of getting waylaid by irrelevant issues and false promises.

As a section of the audience erupted into sloganeering — “Desh ki Aandhi, Priyanka Gandhi” — she interrupted them and said: “Aapko bachane ke liye koi aandhi nahin aa rahi hai. Jaagiye, bachaiye khud ko (No storm will come to protect you. Wake up and protect yourselves).”

She insisted that the people can themselves ensure a bright future for their children by demonstrating political consciousness and enforcing accountability upon the rulers.

The Congress leader has been expressing frustration at the trend of voting on irrelevant issues as politicians whip up passions and divert attention from real concerns. She has been spending all her time and energy to persuade the voters to judge a leader by their work and hold them accountable instead of getting swayed by identity politics and other diversionary tactics.

Addressing a public rally in tribal-dominated Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, Priyanka said: “Neta bhagwan nahin hain (Leaders are not God). They are one of you. Ask the right questions. If you don’t, your future will be dark. Your life will get ruined. If a leader becomes arrogant, teach him a lesson. It is your responsibility. They make false promises and vanish. Then they come at election time and make new promises to fool you. What do they think of themselves? Wake up. Fix accountability.”

She added: “You know the prices have gone up or not. You know your children are getting jobs or not. You know whether farming has become easier and lucrative or not. You know the difference between false claims and real work. You know how depressing it is to see scandals everywhere, loot everywhere.

Corruption has gone beyond all limits in your state. You feel the pain of your struggle and yet you accept political mockery of lies and distractions.”

Asking the people to verify the claims made by leaders, Priyanka said: “I can’t stand here in front of you and brag about a health scheme in Rajasthan if the Chiranjeevi scheme doesn’t exit. We don’t lie because we expect you to know the truth. Leaders very cleverly exploit your emotions at election time. They mislead you by promising a rosy scenario. You see grand advertising and publicity. But you have to judge them on the basis of ground reality. The country belongs to you, the responsibility to save it is yours. If you don’t get misled, your future won’t be dark.”

Repeatedly exhorting the voters to look around, probe and explore what is good for them, she said: “It is easier to talk negatively about other parties than giving an account of your own performance. How do you accept some leaders are great? Great leaders always work for your welfare, your empowerment. They are committed to protect your interest. Then a relationship of trust and respect develops.”

Priyanka recalled how Modi had abused and defamed the Congress instead of concentrating on people’s welfare.

Telling the people to trust the promises made by the Congress only after finding out what was happening in states like Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh, she said: “We are not telling you there is no money for your welfare. We are managing funds for our schemes. We know thousands of crore are written off for crony capitalists; national assets are being handed over to Adani. But we are giving you gas cylinders for Rs 500 each. We are giving cash assistance to women. You judge us on our performance.”