New Delhi: On Thursday evening, Congress president Rahul Gandhi conceded defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections and congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for their victory. “We have to accept that Narendra Modi and the BJP have won, we congratulate them,” Rahul told a press conference at the AICC headquarters here.
“I congratulate Narendra Modi and the BJP. I also thank Congress workers who fought the elections with dedication. I want to tell them that they should not be afraid. Our fight is a fight of ideology,” he said.
“I had said that during the campaign that 'janta maalik hai' and today people have clearly given their decision,” he further said.
Refusing to go deeper into the reasons for the Congress’ loss and the BJP’s win, he said, “Frankly, today is the not the day to discuss what I think went wrong because the people of India have clearly decided that Narendra Modi is going to be their prime minister and as an Indian, I respect that.” “Today is the day of the mandate and I don’t want to colour the decision of the people of India,” he said.
Rahul also conceded defeat in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi and congratulated his BJP rival Smriti Irani. “I respect the verdict. I wish that she takes care of Amethi. My philosophy is that I will respond with love,” he said.