Cong works to unite, BJP to divide: Rahul
JAIPUR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of creating two Indias, one for the rich and the other for the poor, and destroying the economy of the country which was “strengthened” by the former UPA government.
Gandhi also alleged that while the Congress works to connect with all, the BJP works to create a divide. “The BJP and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi want to create two Hindustans, one for the rich and select two-three industrialists, and the other for Dalits, farmers, the poor and underprivileged. The Congress wants only one Hindustan,” the former Congress president told a public meeting in tribal-dominated Banswara district, in southern Rajasthan.
There is a fight between two ideologies in the country, Gandhi said. “The Congress says that we have to move forward while connecting with all, respect and protect the culture of all. The BJP works to divide, crush and suppress. (BJP) works to remove history and culture of tribals,” he said. “We work to connect while they work to divide. We help the weaker and they help selected top industrialists,” he added.
Gandhi also accused the Modi-led government of damaging the economy that was strengthened under the previous UPA government.
“The BJP government has attacked our economy. PM Modi carried out demonetisation and wrongly implemented the goods and services tax (GST) due to which the economy got destroyed. The UPA had worked to strengthen the economy but Narendra Modi caused harm to our economy,” he said.
“Every youth knows that they cannot get jobs in Hindustan today. Inflation is increasing,” he added. The Congress leader further spoke on the contentious agricultural laws, saying they were meant to benefit a few selected industrialists. The laws were repealed by the Centre last year amid continuous protests by farmers across the country.
Gandhi praised the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in the state for “working for the interest of farmers, tribals, Dalits and all sections of society”. He also appreciated the initiative of the state government to open English medium government schools and launching the Chiranjeevi health insurance scheme which provides a cover of up to ₹10 lakh to every family in the state. “There is no other state in India with such a scheme... Rajasthan is a pioneer,” he said.
Gehlot, who also addressed the gathering, said the situation in the country is “worrisome” and it will progress only when there is peace and harmony.
“...it is our duty to respect other religions as well. Our policies and programmes are in the country’s interest,” he said.
The chief minister also referred to recent instances of communal violence in the state and questioned who benefited from them. “…which party? It is the workers of the same party who are creating riots. We need to keep the country united and it should run on the basis of the Constitution,” he said.
Hitting back, the BJP accused the Congress of working to divide the country since partition.