‘Modi should ask Congress to take over if he can’t give jobs’
AMETHI: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying if the PM was not able to provide jobs to youths and help farmers he should make way for the Congress.
Addressing a chaupal (meeting) of farmers at Kathaura village on the first day of his threeday visit to his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi on Wednesday, he said: “Modi should not waste India’s time. He should begin providing jobs to the youth. There are two main issues in India, the issue of farmers and that of providing employment. Others are smaller issues. If Modiji is not able to do it, he should tell the Congress to take over and we will do this work in six months.”
This was Rahul Gandhi’s first visit to Amethi after the Congress debacle in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections held earlier this year.
Referring to the BJP’s poll promises, he said: “Everybody in India is aware that this person (Modi) promised us two crore jobs and he is not able to do so. This is hurting. Modi speaks about Make in India and start-ups but does not give jobs. Now, anger is rising…wherever you go. Farmers are committing suicide.”
Charging the BJP with ignoring schemes like food park and other projects meant for the development of Amethi, he said, “It is unfortunate that the BJP has harmed the interest of people of Amethi...this is wrong. Their (BJP’s) thinking is like this only...but I will fight for you all.”
He also mentioned BJP chief Amit Shah’s description of promises as “election jumlas.”
India was generating only 450 jobs for 30,000 youths per day, Gandhi said, adding this was much lower than China which was giving 50,000 jobs per day.
As an opposition leader, he said he wanted to make a suggestion to the Modi government to think about GST again.
He said the RSS and the BJP were implementing the Congress programmes though these organisations spoke against them.
He said Modi first called the rural job guarantee scheme MNREGA useless but later praised it.
“Modi does not consult the people. He gave Swachh Bharat without asking people whether they needed the programme,” said the Congress leader.
He began his address with the problems of farmers of Kathaura village that he took up with the NHAI in Lucknow on August 1.
He referred to his fight for farmers and UPA government’s land acquisition law brought to help them. “I am told your file has been sent to Delhi (NHAI) and we will keep up the pressure,” said Gandhi.