Rahul slams Modi ‘ally’ Vijayan in Kerala rallies
Congress leader strongly condemns Kerala’s CM for going sot on BJP, says Vijayan is spending most of his energy to criticise him while sparing Modi; electoral bond is the biggest scam under Modi: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whose primary challenger in his Wyanad constituency in Kerala, Communist Party of India leader Annie Raja, has strongly criticised the state’s chief minister, Pinaray Vijayan, for going sot on the principal adversary Bharatiya Janata Party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing a series of meetings and roadshows in Wayanad and Kozhikode districts on Monday and Tuesday, the leading opposition figure said Vijayan was spending most of his energy to criticise him while sparing Modi.
He reminded the let parties, who are part of the Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), that this election was an opportunity to resist the Hindu nationalist BJP and its ideological mentor, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
“There is one big issue in this election: the RSS and BJP are trying to destroy India’s Constitution while we are trying to save it,” he said during a roadshow in Kodiyathur town in Kozhikode district, which is part of his constituency, on Tuesday.
“I know there are some LDF members here as well. I don’t agree with your ideology, and I’m ready to sit down and discuss it with you. That does not mean I do not consider you my family. All the people of Wayanad are like my family. A difference in political ideas doesn’t mean you cannot be affectionate and respectful to others.”
Vijayan’s Communist Party of India (Marxist) is leading the ruling Let Democratic Front in Kerala, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is the principal opposition.
They are fighting head-on in almost all constituencies, while the Bjp-led National Democratic Alliance is yet to open its account despite Modi’s best efforts.
“When the BJP is destroying the Constitution, attacking democracy, destroying institutions, and dividing India, why is the Kerala chief minister attacking me 24x7? I’m happy for him to atack me, but he should also atack Mr Modi, the BJP, and the RSS,” Rahul said, addressing a massive rally on Kozhikode beach on Monday where tens of thousands of people, mostly women, gathered.
“I atack the RSS and the BJP, and I have been doing this relentlessly. 24/7, they are ater me. I spent 55 hours being interrogated by the Enforcement Directorate (investigating financial crimes). Ater I gave a speech in Parliament, the BJP had me removed from Parliament. I was reinstated by the Supreme Court.”
“They took away my house, but I told them I don’t need your house; I have millions of houses in the hearts of Indian people. It’s an ideological batle, and I fight and represent an ideology. I know when someone atacks the BJP, the BJP uses (federal agencies) to atack back. My question is: Why isn’t the BJP attacking the CM of Kerala?” he asked.
He also lauded Kerala people who collected Rs 340 million to save a man on death row in Saudi Arabia by paying blood money.
“A person is condemned to die for a mistake he makes, and the whole of Kerala, every single religion, all ages, men, women and children, get together and collect the money to save that man’s life,” he said.
“Kerala spoke with dignity and gave a befitting reply to the ideology of the RSS and the PM of India. This is how Kerala teaches people what is in its heart and soul.”
On the electoral bonds the government issued through the State Bank of India for political parties to fund electioneering, he said it was the biggest scam under Modi, which he used to give clean chit to the corporate houses indulging in corrupt practices.
“The electoral bond scheme is the biggest extortion racket. It has been organised and conceptualised by the Prime Minister of India himself. The whole idea was his. He said this was done to bring transparency to politics. Then, why were the names kept hidden? Who was stopping the release of data ater the Supreme Court asked? This is the country’s biggest bribery scheme conceptualised by the Prime Minister,” he said.
“Our job is to protect the Constitution and safeguard the democratic structure of India. This is our sacred duty. We will never decide on citizenship based on caste, religion, or language. We will decide citizenship based on the idea of India, nothing less!”