Gulf Today

SP-BSP tie-up not a setback, Congress will win on ideology: Rahul

Uae-india relationsh­ip is an open canvas, a lot can be done together

- IMRAN MOJIB

DUBAI: The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) alliance in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections is not a setback for Congress Party, said party president Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing the media in Dubai on Saturday concluding his two-day UAE visit, Gandhi said that he has immense respect for BSP Supremo Mayawati and SP President Akhilesh Yadav and that the SP and BSP have the right to form an alliance.

But, he expressed confidence that the election results will be surprising as the Congress party has tremendous amount of support of people in Uttar Pradesh.

“Congress party will contest the elections with full strength as we fight for ideology,” he said.

When asked about the impact of Congress party contesting the elections on its own, he said that it does not matter whether Congress Party contests the elections as an alliance partner or alone, because the result will be the same –Narendra Modiled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be defeated.

Gandhi, who successful­ly led his party in recently-held assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisga­rh, said that his party will now mobilise its supporters.

He expressed hope that his party will win the elections in 2019 because there is massive response coming from bureaucrat­s, institutio­nal structures, people of India who are not going to accept that the institutio­ns are being destroyed.

“This is coming from the heart of India. You are going to see shocking result in 2019. Modi will not understand how it happened. Because he has tried to suppress India’s voice,” he said However, he did not answer to a question on the possibilit­y of having a post-poll alliance with the SP-BSP combine.

Priorities If voted to power in the upcoming general elections, his government will focus on jobcreatio­n, as India is facing massive unemployme­nt problem. “We will rebuild institutio­ns, correct the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the impact of demonitasa­ion of Indian currency, which was rash and irresponsi­ble decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

DUBAI: The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) alliance in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections is not a setback for Congress Party, said party president Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing the media in Dubai on Saturday concluding his two-day UAE visit, Gandhi said that he has immense respect for BSP Supremo Mayawati and SP President Akhilesh Yadav and that the SP and BSP have the right to form an alliance.

But, HE Expressed CONIDENCE that THE election results will be surprising as the Congress party has tremendous amount of support of people in Uttar Pradesh.

“Congress party will contest the Elections with Full strength As we ight for ideology,” he said.

When asked about the impact of Congress party contesting the elections on its own, he said that it does not matter whether Congress Party contests the elections as an alliance partner or alone, because the result will be the same –Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be defeated.

Gandhi, who successful­ly led his party in recently-held assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisga­rh, said that his party will now mobilise its supporters.

He expressed hope that his party will win the elections in 2019 because there is massive response coming from bureaucrat­s, institutio­nal structures, people of India who are not going to accept that the institutio­ns are being destroyed.

“This is coming from the heart of India. You are going to see shocking result in 2019. Modi will not understand how it happened. Because he has tried to suppress India’s voice,” he said

However, he did not answer to a question on the possibilit­y of having a post-poll alliance with the SP-BSP combine.

PRIORITIES

If voted to power in the upcoming general elections, his government will focus on job-creation, as India is facing massive unemployme­nt problem. “We will rebuild institutio­ns, correct the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the impact of demonitasa­ion of Indian currency, which was rash and irresponsi­ble decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

Gandhi said that his government will also focus on bringing business to India, but stressed that it is fundamenta­lly connected to the environmen­t in India. India is facing the 14-year low with REGARDS to Investment Inlows In India. The central reason is couple of ill-advised and badly thought-out economic moves like demonitisa­tion and a poorly designed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and also the atmosphere that has been vitiated.

“We will certainly provide a peaceful environmen­t and take up rational economic decision. We will restructur­e GST and we will embrace investment from the Middle East and the rest of the world.”

UAE-INDIA TIES

Gandhi said that the UAE and India share age-old relationsh­ip of mutual Beneits, of tolerance, of love and affection.

“We have scaled many heights, yet there are rooms for us to cooperate. You have done excellent work in education, HEALTHCARE AND inancial sector. WE CAN do a lot together. Cooperatio­n in defence and against terrorism are other areas where a lot can be done together. It is an open canvas and we are committed on improving and strengthen­ing the relationsh­ip,” he said.

“It is also a relationsh­ip based on similar ideas, the idea of tolerance that is the central theme in our country. Although there is a little bit of aberration going back home (in India as BJP is being aggressive, intolerant and destroying our institutio­ns. But this is temporary, we will take care of it after the 2019 general elections,” he added.

ON PAKISTAN

Talking about Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s overture to start dialogue and restore peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, Gandhi said that he is not privy to the informatio­n that the Indian government has, thus he will react to it once he gets those informatio­n.

“I am all for peaceful relations with Pakistan. But certainly will not tolerate violence being carried out against innocent Indians by Pakistan. You cannot carry out acts of terror in India and expect India to talk kindly to you,” he said.

 ?? Kamal Kassim / The Gulf Today ?? Rahul Gandhi looks forward to the age-old relationsh­ip of mutual benefits, of tolerance, of love and affection shared between UAE and India.
Kamal Kassim / The Gulf Today Rahul Gandhi looks forward to the age-old relationsh­ip of mutual benefits, of tolerance, of love and affection shared between UAE and India.

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