BJP govt closing corruption paths paved by Cong: Modi
The last nine years of the BJP-led Union government were dedicated to the service of citizens and good governance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, as he accused the previous Congress governments of “misguiding and depriving” the poor.
Addressing a public rally at Ajmer in Rajasthan, the Prime Minister said that India’s achievements are being praised across the world, whereas the Congress governments of the past used to take “85% commission” from money meant for development.
“We have given ₹29 lakh crore to the poor through direct benefit transfer. If the Congress government would have been there, then ₹24 lakh crore would have been looted…Congress loots every community,” he alleged. “The BJP government has fast-tracked development in the last nine years because we are shutting paths of corruption paved by the Congress.” The Prime Minister also took a dig at the Congress-led state government during the rally, which is seen as the beginning of the BJP’s campaign for the crucial assembly elections in Rajasthan scheduled for later this year.
“In 2018, people gave their mandate in Rajasthan. But what did Rajasthan get? Instability and anarchy. Legislators, minsters and chief minister have spent the last five years fighting. The Congress is not bothered about the people,” Modi said.
He was referring to the differences between chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former dep
uty, Sachin Pilot, that have roiled the Congress’s state unit for the last four years.
Modi also attacked the Congress for boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday. “The new Parliament was unveiled three days back but the Congress and some like-minded parties did petty politics over it,” he said. “It was a proud moment for India but the opposition parties sacrificed it for their selfish political motives.”
Modi accused the Congress of following a policy of misleading the poor and keeping them deprived during its rule.
Asking people to be wary of the Congress’s guarantees, Modi said: “To cover its misgovernance, the Congress evolved the formula of fake guarantees. They gave a guarantee to farmers in Rajasthan, too, that in 10 days they would give loan waiver… did Congress fulfil its promise?”
Congress spokesperson RC Choudhary said PM Modi’s speech left the people of Rajasthan “disappointed”. “We thought he would make some announcement for Rajasthan but the PM gave nothing. It was from Ajmer that the PM had announced the ERCP (Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project) in October 2018. But he made no mention of it now,” he said.
Political analyst Manish Godha said through the PM’s rally, which was attended by former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, state BJP president CP Joshi and leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore, among others, the BJP tried to send a message of unity. “The PM has made it clear that the BJP will target the Congress for corruption and misgovernance. His second visit to the state in 10 days shows the party’s importance to the western Indian state that goes to polls in December,” said Godha.