Congress President Rahul Gandhi has set the tone for Congress’ campaign for the next general elections in 2019, stating at a massive rally on Sunday that his party would defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party and return to power in 2019.
Rahul expressed confidence that Congress would also form government in the three poll-bound states of Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh before 2019 national elections.
During a speech at Jan Aakrosh (public anger) Rally, the 47-year-old leader mounted a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “failure” to deliver on key election promises and his “silence” on many burning issues of the day,
Addressing a crowd of thousands at Ramlila Maidan, Rahul took on the current government on national security, farmers suicides, increase in the number of rapes and surge in attacks on minorities and Dalits in recent months, among other important issues.
Hitting out at Modi over Kathua, Unnao rape cases, Rahul said, “For the first time in 70 years, the Indian prime minister had to speak about an issue in which a BJP MLA attacked a woman and a child was attacked in Jammu and Kashmir.”
“PM Modi says Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, but members of his own party are assaulting women,” Rahul said.
Rahul noted during his speech that he had urged PM Modi in person to waive off farmers’ loans, but his request was shot down.
“I met PM Modi myself and asked him to waive off farm loans. He refused and said that waiving off farm loans is not their policy,” he said.
“Narendra Modiji does not increase the MSP but then talks about farmers. Arun Jaitleyji says that loan waiver for farmers is not an option,” pointed Rahul, adding that without the Congress party, farmers in this country wouldn’t be able to survive as their land would be grabbed by the Modi government and handed to the corporates.
The Congress chief took potshots at the informal summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded in Wuhan on Saturday, saying that the Indian leadership had failed to confront China on the recent buildup on the Doklam Plateau.
“The Chinese are aggressively pursuing militarisation in Doklam. Despite this, all that PM Modi does is hold a "no-agenda" meeting with the Chinese President,” he said.
Rahul’s harshest words were reserved for the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), which he stated was undermining the democratic institutions of the country as PM Modi watched in silence.
Published: 29 Apr 2018, 6:04 PM IST
“The BJP and RSS spread hatred and fear while Congress workers spread love. We have provided women security, maintained the unity of the country, strengthened the democracy in 70 years. PM Modi has spread lies about Congress party, its workers and its leaders and now the truth of Narendra Modi is out in the open,” said Rahul.
The recently elevated Congress President highlighted that unlike the BJP and its mentor organisation RSS, Congress respected difference and diversity in opinion.
Through linguistic intelligence, Rahul seemed to be able to convey his message clearly to the crowd, which also included senior Congress leaders including United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Published: 29 Apr 2018, 6:04 PM IST
Published: 29 Apr 2018, 6:04 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi’s speech at the rally
Published: 29 Apr 2018, 6:04 PM IST
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Published: 29 Apr 2018, 6:04 PM IST