Hindustan Times (Bathinda)

PM should deliver instead of making excuses: Rahul

- Umesh Raghuvansh­i uraghuvans­hi@hindustant­imes.com

AMETHI: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop making excuses and deliver on his promises, a day after Modi complained about “pessimism” spread by “some people”.

Gandhi said the PM should show magnanimit­y in admitting that he had not been able to deliver on his promises made before the 2014 polls.

“Instead of talking about people creating an atmosphere of pessimism, the PM should admit that he has not been able to deliver in the last three years and say he would fulfill promises in the next one-and-a-half years,” Gandhi told reporters in his constituen­cy Amethi on the second day of his three-day tour.

On Wednesday, Modi had said the slowdown in GDP in one quarter had become “big news”. “Some people take pleasure in spreading pessimism. They get a good sleep out of it.” In response, Gandhi said shortage of jobs was a serious problem and cited statistics to show India was creating lesser jobs per day than China.

“They (Modi government) are not able to provide jobs… This is a major problem. This is a crisis. Modi should accept there is a crisis and work to resolve it instead of panicking and making excuses. Time for making excuses is over now,” he said. Gandhi advised the PM to focus on two issues — creation of jobs and resolving the crisis in agricultur­e sector.

With BJP president Amit Shah and Union ministers planning to visit Amethi on October 10, Gandhi used the occasion to list 12 major projects, including the under-constructi­on 200-bed hospital at Ludhauria village, and said BJP leaders were trying to take credit and re-inaugurate Congress’s projects.

Interactin­g with workers in Tiloi assembly segment of Rae Bareli, Gandhi targeted the PM for his “56-inch chest” remark ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He said Manmohan Singh delivered more as PM though he did not have a “56-inch chest”.

Gandhi highlighte­d MGNREGA and other schemes launched by UPA government as achievemen­ts of the Manmohan Singh government.

He targeted Modi for launching bullet train project by taking loan from Japan and said the amount could have been used to revamp railways.

 ?? PTI PHOTO ?? Congress vicepresid­ent Rahul Gandhi greets supporters in Amethi on Thursday.
PTI PHOTO Congress vicepresid­ent Rahul Gandhi greets supporters in Amethi on Thursday.

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