PM throws challenge at Cong. for its stand on Muslim quota
Modi launches LS campaign in his home State of Gujarat; tells public ‘if you have two bu„aloes, Congress will take away one if voted to power’ in reference to alleged proposal of inheritance tax
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked the Congress to give in writing to the people of the country that it would not introduce religion-based reservations. He also asked the grand old party to take a pledge that it would not try to change the Constitution.
Mr. Modi slammed the Opposition party for the idea of “imposing inheritance tax”, and told people at an election rally in Gujarat’s Banaskantha that “if you have two bu aloes, Congress will take away one if voted to power”.
“This is my challenge to the Congress shehzada (prince, a reference to Rahul Gandhi), his party, and supporters. If they have the courage, let them announce and give it in writing that they will never o er reservations based on religion. They should pledge to not tamper with the Constitution,” the PM said as he launched his electoral campaign in his home State of Gujarat on the State’s foundation day.
Dairy farming mainstay
Mr. Modi launched the campaign from Banaskantha where Congress candidate Geniben Thakor has been targeting the Banas Dairy and its chairman and BJP leader Shankar Chaudhary, whose protege Rekha Chaudhary is the BJP candidate from the north Gujarat seat where dairy farming as a livelihood is a mainstay for rural farmers.
The PM addressed two rallies — at Deesa in Banaskantha, and at Himatnagar in Sabarkantha, a neighbouring district, where dairy farming is also a major source of income and livelihood for rural communities.
“Recently, a Congress leader from abroad (referring to Sam Pitroda) suggested a proposal where more than half of your inheritance will be taken away from you and given to the government. A 55% inheritance tax will be imposed. For example, if you have 10 acres of land and you want to hand it over to your children; half of it will be taken over by the government. Similarly, if you have two bu aloes and want to leave them for your children, one will be taken away by the government if Congress is voted to power,” he said, continuing his vitriolic attack on the Opposition party.
He repeated his charges against the Congress regarding spreading fake videos to target the BJP government, its plans to allow religion-based quota and curtailing the existing reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs and how its government was timid in ghting terrorism. Mr. Modi also said that as long as he was alive, he would not allow religion-based quotas in the country. “The party which ruled the country for 60 years has become a fake factory,” Modi said.