Dhami attacks Cong over LS poll manifesto
DEHRADUN: In a scathing attack on the Congress manifesto for the coming Lok Sabha elections, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday said it reflects the “vote bank politics of appeasement and bears the imprint of the ideology of the Muslim League”.
Addressing an election rally in Mukteshwar area of Nainital district, held in support of the party candidate from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar seat Ajay Bhatt, Dhami said: “Our government is talking about ‘One India-Great India’ by implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and abolishing Article 370, while Congress in its manifesto is talking about implementing/upholding Muslim Personal Law. This reflects the vote bank politics of appeasement. The imprint of the ideology of the Muslim League is visible in Congress manifesto.”
According to the manifesto, released by Congress on Friday, “it will ensure that, like every citizen, minorities have the freedom of choice of dress, food, language and personal laws... We will encourage reform of personal laws. Such reform must be undertaken with the participation and consent of the communities concerned.”
The CM said: “We had promised the public to implement the UCC, which has been fulfilled after the formation of the government. There has been a continuous demand for a UCC within the country. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Article 370 was abolished, thereby fulfilling the vision of one India. The credit for passing the UCC Bill goes to the citizens of Uttarakhand.”
Dhami alleged that Congress only wants to enjoy the power, they have nothing to do with the public interest. “We are devoting every moment under the leadership of PM Modi to make Uttarakhand the best state of the country,” he said.
The CM further said: “A prince born with a golden spoon cannot know the pain of the poor. People who grow up under the shadow of a dynasty all their lives cannot know the struggle of the people.”
Talking about the development done in Kumaon region, Dhami said that several acres of HMT land in Nainital have been transferred to the state government, Jamrani Dam project has been approved, renovation of railway lines is going on in Lalkuan, Haldwani, Ramnagar, train for Amritsar has been started,
AIIMS is going to be built in Kichha. “Haldwani has received an amount of ₹2,200 crore to make it a smart city.”
The CM said the government is running many schemes for the welfare of the common people. “The development of the country and the state is continuing with schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission. Under the leadership of PM Modi, many tough decisions have been taken in the interest of the country. Citizenship Amendment Act has been implemented in the country. Article 370 has been abolished from Kashmir, triple talaq has been abolished. The army has been strengthened more than before. Today, no permission is required to respond to the bullets of the enemy. One Rank One Pension has been implemented,” he said.
Dhami said that PM Modi has a special attachment to Uttarakhand. “In the last 10 years, the Centre has approved schemes worth ₹2 lakh crore for Uttarakhand. We all together have to send BJP candidate Ajay Bhatt from Nainital seat to parliament with huge victory margin,” he said.
Congress state vice-president Mathura Dutt Joshi said Dhami has perhaps not read the whole manifesto which talks about justice for various sections of society be it youth, women, farmers or minorities.
“I don’t know where they are seeing the imprint of Muslim League in it. The CM has nothing to talk about so he is making baseless allegations. Also, I want to ask Dhami ji that he has perhaps forgotten who had put a Chadar (blanket) at the tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah (referring to LK Advani’s trip to Pakistan in 2005).”