RAHUL ATTACKS MODI OVER RAFALE DEAL
GANDHI BEGAN HIS DAY
BY VISITING THE FAMILY OF LATE PARTY LEADER MIRZA IRSHAD BAIG AND FORMER CHIEF MINISTER MADHAVSINH SOLANKI
Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi alleged during his campaign in pollbound Gujarat’s north and central regions on Saturday that the BJP government was favouring big industrialists but doing little for distressed farmers, smalltime traders and the jobless.
He promised a Congress government, if his party is voted to power after two decades in the state, will be for labourers, farmers and small-time businessmen.
“Narendra Modiji gave away ₹33,000 crore (soft loan) to Tata for Nano plant. But he would not waive your farm loans,” he told farmers at Bayad in Aravali.
He also accused the government of caring little for the unemployed. “While five-10 industrialists have seen all the growth under the Modi government, Gujarat has 30 lakh unemployed youth today,” he said.
The BJP was quick to respond to the jibe. Its media cell circulated a video on social media with a caption, “Rahul Gandhi is caught faking unemployment figure. Gujarat is leading in the sector of employment generation. Rahul Gandhi should apologise for misleading and maligning people of Gujarat”.
Gandhi began his second day of a two-day tour by visiting the family of late Congress leader Mirza Irshad Baig and called on former chief minister Madhavsinh Solanki too.
In Lunawada that has a sizeable tribal and Muslim population, Gandhi hit out at the government’s Rafale jet fighter deal with France.
“Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has manufacturing experience. But this industrialist who got the deal has not made a single aircraft,” Gandhi said and demanded an answer from Prime Minister Modi.
“But winter session of Parliament is delayed. Parliament won’t open before Gujarat elections so that answering such questions can be avoided,” he said. Industrialist Anil Ambani’s company is involved in procuring 26 Rafale jets from France.
Gandhi also hit out at the BJP’s development model. “Gujarat is developed because you have worked hard for it. But what Modiji has done is take away your money, water and land, and give it to a few industrialists. He would make you listen to his ‘Mann ki Baat’. But the Congress will listen to your mann ki baat,” he said.